LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



LIGHT 



FROM HISTORY; 



The Story of Fulfilled Prophecy. 



BY CLARA THURSTON. 



>* 



' The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 

Rev. 19 : 10. 



ELMIRA, N. Y.: 
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 



sphJ'- 



1880. 

9h 






Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1880, by 

CLARA THURSTON, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



L. J. Hardham, Printer, Newark, N. J. 



TO THOSE 

OF MY PUPILS WHO STILL SURVIVE, 

AND TO 

THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE, 

I DEDICATE 

WITH A LOVING HEART, 

THIS THE LAST LABOR OF MY HANDS. 

C. THURSTON. 



CONTENTS. 



PREFACE 17 

INTRODUCTION 19 

THE DAUGHTERS' REQUEST 21 

CONVERSATION I. 
Evidence that the Bible is divinely inspired 23 

CONVERSATION II. 
The Books of the Bible and their Authors 31 

CONVERSATION III. 
Bible Language — First Promise — The Antediluvians 39 

CONVERSATION IV. 
The Ark and the Flood — Fulfillment of Noah's 
Prophecy 46 

CONVERSATION V. 
Call of Abraham — Melchizedek — Promise renewed — 
Prophecy of Ishmael — Visit of Angels 52 

CONVERSATION VI. 
The Sacrifice of Isaac — Renewal of the Covenant — 
Isaac and Rebecca — Jacob and Esau 59 

CONVERSATION VII. 
Jacob at Bethel — Jacob at Haran — Return to Can- 
aan — Night at Peniel — His Trials— Story of Joseph 67 



X CONTENTS. 

CONVERSATION VIII. 
Joseph a Type of Christ — Prophecies of Israel con- 
cerning his Sons 76 

CONVERSATION IX. 
Moses— Deliverance from Egypt — The Passover — 
Passage of the Red Sea— Manna given — Israel at 
Rephidim 84 

CONVERSATION X. 
Israel at Mt. Sinai — The Giving of the Law — Moses 
on the Mount — The Tabernacle 91 

CONVERSATION XI. 

The Ceremonial Law —The Burnt Offering — The 
Meat Offering — Use of Wine — Peace Offering- 
Sin Offering — Trespass Offering 98 

CONVERSATION XII. 
The Feasts — The Mosaic Laws — Departure from 
Sinai — Report of the Twelve Spies — Rebellion of 
Korah — Sin of Moses and Aaron — Brazen Ser- 
pent 106 

CONVERSATION XIII. 
Conquest of Sihon and Og — Prophecies Fulfilled — 
Giant Cities — King of Moab — Balaam — Spiritual- 
ism 115 

CONVERSATION XIV. 
Moses a type of Christ — Deuteronomy — Threaten- 
ings and Promises — Fulfillment — Condition of 
the Jews in United States — Centennial Gift 124 



CONTENTS. XI 

CONVERSATION XV. 
Moses' Last Words — Joshua, his Successor — 
Moses' Song- — Blessing of the Tribes — His Death — 
History of Joshua — Rahab — Crossing the Jordan — 
Observance of Ordinances 133 

CONVERSATION XVI. 
The Fall of Jericho — The Sin of Achan — The Con- 
quest of Canaan — The Period of the Judges — The 
Story of Ruth 143 

CONVERSATION XVII. 
Hannah's Consecration — Samuel's Call — The Ark of 
God taken — Judgments upon the Philistines — 
Upon the Bethshemites — Samuel, a Prophet and a 
Judge 154 

CONVERSATION XVIII. 
David and Goliah — Saul's Persecution of David — 
Saul's Last Days — David's Lamentation — David 
on the Throne — Death of Uzzah — Removal of the 
Ark 162 

CONVERSATION XIX. 
David a King, a Poet and a Prophet — Prophecies of 
Christ and the Fulfillment — Authors of the 
Psalms — David's Great Desire — The Coming and 
Kingdom of Christ 173 

CONVERSATION XX. 
Events Showing the Progress of Redemption — Solo- 
mon — The Temple — Queen of Sheba — Solomon's 
Departure from God — Solomon's Writings — The 
Mosaic Church — Tyrian History 184 



Xll CONTENTS. 

CONVERSATION XXI. 
Division of the Kingdom — The Prophet from Judah — 
Character of the Two Kingdoms — Worship of 
Baal — Asa and his Deliverance — Jehoshaphat and 
his Deliverance 196 

CONVERSATION XXII. 
The Prophets of Israel — Elijah's Mission — Trial 
upon Mt. Carmel — Elijah in the Wilderness — 
Elijah and Elisha — Preaching by Fire — The As- 
cension of Elijah 206 

CONVERSATION XXIII. 
Elisha's Miracles — The Moabite Stone — Naaman — 
Deliverance of Elisha — Of Samaria — Jehosha- 
phat — Marriage of his Son — Evil Results — Influ- 
ence of Jehoida 216 

CONVERSATION XXIV. 
Reign of Joash — Death of Elisha — Kings of Israel — 
Of Judah — Battle between the Tribes — Influence 
of a Prophet — Worship of Moloch — Period of the 
Prophets — Jonah — Hosea's Prophecy 225 

CONVERSATION XXV. 
Prophecy of Joel — Judgments upon Judah — Promises 
of Blessings — Amos a Missionary Prophet — Judg- 
ments upon the Nations— Upon Israel 235 

CONVERSATION XXVI. 
Character of the Book of Isaiah — His Vision— The 
Message — Isaiah's History — Prophecies of Christ — 
Micah as a Prophet— The Book of Micah — His 
Prophecies and their Fulfillment 244 



CONTENTS. Xlll 

CONVERSATION XXVII. 
Israel and Judah 800 B. C. — Ahaz— Hezekiah's 
Reign — Decline and Captivity of Israel— Monu- 
mental Annals — Invasion of Judah— Deliverance — 
The Power of Prayer 256 

CONVERSATION XXVIII. 

The World 700 B. C— The Two Empires -Man- 
asseh — Josiah— The Reformation — Fall of Nine- 
veh — Prophecy Fulfilled — Late Discoveries — Rec- 
ords 266 

CONVERSATION XXIX. 
Prophecies of Zephaniah — Of Obadiah — Habak- 
kuk — His Prophecies — His Psalm — Jeremiah — His 
Commission — Sins of Judah — Prophecies of Neb- 
uchadnezzar — Overthrow of Judah — The Prophet 
in Egypt 277 

CONVERSATION XXX. 
Ezekiel's Vision — His Commission — The Roll — His 
Second Vision — Warnings of the Prophet — His 
Silence — Prophecy of Christian Dispensation — 
- Nebuchadnezzar's Conquests 290 

CONVERSATION XXXI. 
Invasions of Egypt — Prophecies Fulfilled — Egypt 
under the Turks — Mehemet Ali, % the Present 
Khedive — State of the People — Religion, Ancient 
and Modern — Rosetta Stone — Ancient Records — 
Sins of Egypt 301 

CONVERSATION XXXII 
Prophecies of Tyre — Ancient Greatness — Sins of 
Tyre — Carthage — Glory of New Tyre — A Christ- 



XIV CONTENTS. 

ian City — Alexander's Siege — Prophecies Ful- 
filled — Present State — Sermon preached by these 
Ruins 313 

CONVERSATION XXXIII. 
Nations Conquered by Nebuchadnezzar — Moab and 
Ammon — Spite against Israel — For what Con- 
demned — Penalty — Prophecies of these Nations — 
Complete Fulfillment 324 

CONVERSATION XXXIV. 

Spirit of Esau and Edomites — Height attained by 
Edom — Prophecies of Edom — Description of 
Petra — Prophecies — Thoughts of Stevens — Ful- 
fillment of Prophecy in Israel and Edom — In the 
Bedouin Arabs 331 

CONVERSATION XXXV. 

Damascus — Its Age and its Changes — Fulfillment of 
Prophecy — A Bright Scene — Philistines — Proph- 
ecies — Present State of Ekron — Of Ashdod — Of 
Ashkelon — Of Gaza — The Sheik's Story — Gath.. 341 

CONVERSATION XXXVI. 
The Promised Land — Predictions Fulfilled — Testi- 
mony of Volney — Cause of this Desolation — 
Condition of Jews — A Remnant to be Saved — 
Jerusalem of the Present Day 352 

CONVERSATION XXXVII. 

Daniel — Jerusalem Captured — Jehoiakim — Daniel in 
Babylon — Nebuchadnezzar's Dream — Interpreta- 
tion — Daniel and his Friends — Nebuchadnezzar's 
Conquests — Second Dream — Insanity 365 



CONTENTS. XV 

CONVERSATION XXXVIII. 
Nebuchadnezzar's Successors — Description of Baby- 
lon — Prophecy Fulfilled — Cyrus — Last Night 
of Babylon — The Feast — Writing on the Wall — 
Interpretation — Daniel and the Captives — Triumph 
of Cyrus — Death of the King 376 

CONVERSATION XXXIX. 
Results of the Fall of Babylon — Gradual Decline — 
Prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah — Present State 
thus Described — This a proof of Divine Inspi- 
ration — Why this entire Desolation 387 

CONVERSATION XL. 

Darius, the Mede — The Government of the Empire — 
Conspiracy against Daniel — His Deliverance — 
Daniel's Prayer — 'The Answer — The Seventy 
Weeks Explained 397 

CONVERSATION XLI. 
Cyrus and the Captives — Zorobabel — The First 
Work — A Sad Change — Haggai's Reproofs — The 
Temple Built — Esther and Mordecai — Deliverance 
of the Jews — Administration of Ezra — Of Nehe- 
miah 406 

CONVERSATION XLII. 
Vision of the Four Beasts — Explanation of the Vis- 
ion — What denoted by the Ten Horns — State of 
the World and the Church — The Little Horn — The 
Papal Church — The Contest — The Decision — The 
Three Ribs — Claims of the Pope — Persecution. . . 419 



XVI CONTENTS. 

CONVERSATION XLIII. 
The Two Beasts Explained — The Four Horns — The 
Little Horn — Mahomet and his Religion — Daniel's 
Sadness — His Vision — The Angel's Communica- 
tion — Kings of the North and the South 432 

CONVERSATION XLIV. 
Ptolemy and Seleucus — Predictions Fulfilled — Antio- 
chus the Great — Ptolomy Philopater — Seleucus 
Philopater — Antiochus Epiphanes — Prophecies and 
Fulfillment — Cruelty to the Jews — Judas Macca- 
beus — Death of Antiochus 445 

CONVERSATION XLV. 
Change of time in events Predicted — Oppression of 
Rome- — Kings of South and North — Saracens and 
Turks — Fulfillment of Prophecy in the Arabs — 
Prophecies in Revelations Explained — Influence 
and Extent of Mohammedism 457 

CONVERSATION XLVI. 
The Two Prophets that Returned from Captivity — 
Zechariah's Visions — Fulfillment of Promise in 
Deliverance from Alexander — Prophecies of 
Christ and their Fulfillment 468 

CONVERSATION XLVII. 
The Period of Malachi— His Office-- The Last Proph- 
et—Sins of the Church- Obligation of Giving to 
God — Believing Remnant — Messenger of the Cove- 
nant — The Forerunner — Jesus not Received — 
Penalty — The Proclamation — Jesus Comes — Clos- 
ing Advice 479 



PREFACE. 



TlTHESE Conversations are presented to the pub- 
lic for a double purpose : that of giving an 
example of an interesting method of studying the 
Bible, and of leading the members of Sabbath- 
schools to study the prophecies of the Old Testa- 
ment in connection with the history of their 
fulfillment. 

The words of Jesus are : "Search the Scriptures," 
" they are they which testify of me ; " and those who 
are obedient to this divine command do indeed find 
in Moses and the prophets the whole life of Christ. 

That there is great ignorance of the Bible, es- 
pecially of the Old Testament, is apparent in all 
our Sunday-schools, and, unless our youth can be 
awakened to an interest in these profound revela- 
tions, it is much to be feared that the coming 
generation will not be Christians of a Bible stamp. 

While this is an age of great gospel light, it is 
also an age of speculative unbelief. This is apparent 
not only in the neglect of this old book but in the 
disposition to look for discrepancies in the sacred 
writings ; for thus many may be said to search these 
divine Oracles in the interest of infidelity, rather 
than in pursuit of the truth. 



l8 PREFACE. 

The increasing earnestness of God's people to 
advance the kingdom of the Redeemer has pro- 
voked the Prince of Darkness to corresponding 
earnestness in opposing the truth as it is in Jesus, 
and those who are still his willing subjects are not 
slow to carry out the schemes of this enemy of all 
righteousness. No means, therefore, are left untried 
to undermine the foundation of the Christian faith. 
Specious insinuations against the divine inspiration 
of the Bible are not uncommon, and even bold 
assaults are made upon this citadel of our hopes. 
Hence it seems of the highest importance that our 
youth should not only study the word of God, but 
that they should know how to contend for the faith ; 
understanding that which they affirm, and being 
able to give a reason for their belief. And here, in 
the language of Dr. Mcllvaine, we would say 
" That the fulfillment of the prophecies recorded in 
the Bible, is the highest and most unquestionable 
proof that this book is a revelation from God ; 
furnishing evidence also, ' the force of which is 
continually growing.' " 

Shall our sons and our daughters grow up in 
ignorance of this evidence ? 



INTRODUCTION. 



AN a lofty eminence, in the Green Mountain 
^ State, stands a little white cottage. The 
scenery around is both grand and beautiful. In 
the distance towering mountains seem to blend 
with the sky, while the near view presents a varie- 
gated landscape of hill and dale, dotted with 
dwellings, and teeming with the fruits of human 
industry. 

To the inmates of this cottage — the residence of 
the village pastor — we would introduce our readers. 
Mr. and Mrs. Selwyn are earnest laborers for 
Christ, and their children form an interesting group. 
Edward, the eldest, of manly growth, is engaged in 
studies preparatory to his entrance into college ; 
while Susie and Jennie are twin sisters, just bud- 
ding into womanhood. 

Of this youthful trio, we would make a few 
remarks. They are by no means superior in natural 
ability, but their home education has brought into 
active exercise all their powers — physical and 
mental, as well as aesthetic and moral. The 
religious instruction of their parents has also been 



20 INTRODUCTION. 

blessed, and they have dedicated themselves wholly 
to the service of Christ. Edward is looking for- 
ward to the ministry as his chosen profession, while 
Susie and Jennie are preparing themselves for a 
life work for Jesus, in their own sphere of action. 



THE DAUGHTER'S REQUEST. 



CTUSIE. Mother, Jennie and I have a request 
Tto make, and we hope you will say, "yes." In 
Sabbath- School, to-day, Miss Otis asked a question 
that no one in the class could answer. It was this : 
" What is the meaning of the sceptre not departing 
from Judah until Shiloh comes ? " We supposed 
that Shiloh here means Christ ; but we could not 
explain about the sceptre not departing from Judah 
until He should come. 

Jennie. Since we came home we have been 
talking about our ignorance of the Bible. We 
read at least one chapter each day, as you have 
directed us ; and we spend a good deal of time 
with our Sunday-school lesson. 

Susie. But still we are not satisfied with what 
we are doing, and we have come to ask you if you 
cannot, in these winter evenings, give us some Bible 
instruction : read with us, ask questions, and 
explain what we do not understand. 

To have seen the expression of the mother's 
countenance, as this request was made, one could 
almost have read her thoughts. Her eyes glistened, 



22 THE DAUGHTER S REQUEST. 

and as she replied, a tear found its way down 
her cheek. 

Mrs. S. My dear children, you never made a 
request that so much pleased me. How thought- 
less I have been in never having proposed such a 
plan myself. How much I thank you for putting 
me in mind of the privilege we may thus enjoy. I 
am also under obligation to Miss Otis, for suggest- 
ing, by the question she proposed, an interesting 
and profitable method of studying this sacred 
volume : tracing out prophecies in one j*art of the 
Bible, and their fulfillment in another. 

Susie. We are very happy, dear mother, that 
you are pleased with our request. I am quite sure 
brother Edward will like to join with us ; and after 
the children are in bed, we shall not often be 
interrupted. 

Mrs. S. I will consult your father and your 
brother. 

After a short absence she returned, informing her 
daughters that their father highly approved the 
plan, and that Edward would be a member of the 
class ; also that she thought they could make a 
beginning on Wednesday evening. 



CONVERSATION I. 



EVIDENCE THAT THE BIBLE IS DIVINELY INSPIRED. 

/~\ N Wednesday evening the happy circle might 
^ be seen in the library, ready to engage in the 
much desired employment of searching the pages 
of divine inspiration. The sisters have been dili- 
gently preparing for this hour. Edward is also one 
of the number, desirous to enrich his mind with 
treasures of heavenly wisdom. On the table is the 
family Bible, with other books of reference. 

A student's lamp gives a brilliant light in this 
cosy little room ; and, as their mother enters, she 
is welcomed to her seat of honor in the large arm- 
chair, while the sisters, Bible in hand, take their 
seats at the table. Father stands in the doorway, 
looking pleased with the interest of his children, 
and then resumes his reading. As she opens her 
Bible, the mother says : " This is well named The 
Book, for there is no other like it ; and yet it is not 
one book, but many — many a penman, but one 
author ; for holy men wrote ' as they were moved 
by the Holy Ghost.' " 

Jennie. And it is two volumes in one, the Old 
Testament and the New Testament. 



24 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Yes, and the one is, " the book 
of Christ the Messiah," the other " of Jesus the 
Saviour." Christ is the theme of this sacred volume; 
the outlines of his prophetic history, like a golden 
thread, run through the Old Testament from Genesis 
to Malachi ; while the writers of the New Testament 
unfold the glorious mystery, how " God manifest in 
the flesh, is the Saviour of the world." 

Edward. The word testament might, I believe, 
have been translated covenant — the old covenant 
and the new covenant, which God was pleased to 
make with guilty man. 

Mrs. S. Yes ; immediately after the fall, God 
made known his gracious purpose ; and those be- 
lieving his promise receive eternal life. 

Susie. But how much clearer light we have 
than those who lived under the old covenant. How 
plainly the Saviour is revealed to us. 

Mrs. S. Now, my children, I wish to say some- 
thing of the books contained in the Bible. Being 
written at remote periods, it becomes a question 
with some, how we know that they all belong to the 
inspired writings. It is well, therefore, to look at 
the evidence upon which this belief rests. 

Edward. Yes, mother ; it is important to do this. 

Mrs. S. We will consider this evidence in re- 
gard to the books of the Old Testament. 

Jennie. And here I have a question to begin 
with : Does the Apocrypha belong to the Bible or 
not ? Why is it in some Bibles and not in others ? 



CONVERSATION I. 25 

Mrs. S. I am not surprised at your question, 
for I used to be puzzled just as you are ; and I am 
glad to be able to set you right. These books were 
written by Jews in Egypt, between the time of Mal- 
achi and Christ. The writers do not claim to be 
inspired, nor did the Jews receive these writings as 
belonging to their Scriptures. There are no quota- 
tions from them in the New Testament. In the 
catalogue of canonical books made in the fourth 
century, they are not found ; we know, therefore, 
that at this time they were not admitted into the 
Bible. 

Edward. It was the Church of Rome that first 
received them ; though it was not until the sixteenth 
century, that by the Council of Trent they were 
declared of divine authority. Why Protestants 
ever placed them within the covers of a Bible, it is 
hard to say. 

Mrs. S. The reading of the Apocrypha is 
sufficient to convince one that it cannot be inspired. 

Edward. And now that we are ready to lay the 
Apocrypha on, the shelf, let us look at the evidence 
that all the books of the Old Testament belong to 
the sacred canon. 

Mrs. S. We know that all these books were 
received by the Jews as their Scriptures ; we know 
also that our Saviour's direction was : " Search the 
Scriptures, for they are they which testify of me." 
The Law and the Prophets and the Psalms, or 
Hagiographa, is the division which he makes, and 



26 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

this includes the whole. His constantly referring 
to the Scriptures, and quoting from them, establishes 
their divine authority. 

Edward. Now, mother, while this evidence is 
sufficient, I want to give you a quotation from Jo- 
sephus. A Jew, living in the time of the Apostles, 
he is a competent witness ; but some things which 
he says need to be explained. Here is his state- 
ment : " We have only twenty-two books which we 
hold to be of divine origin, and which we are bound 
to believe. Of these, five are the books of Moses. 
From the death of Moses to the reign of Artaxerx- 
es, King of Persia, the prophets who succeeded 
Moses have written thirteen books ; and the remain- 
ing four books contain divine poems or hymns to 
God, and moral precepts or rules of life for the use 
of man." Now, here is my difficulty : Josephus 
says we have but twenty-two books, while our 
Bible contains thirty-nine. 

Mrs. S. This I can explain to your satisfac- 
tion. The five books of Moses are just as we have 
them. The thirteen books of the Prophets are 
these : Joshua, Judges, (including Ruth,) Samuel, 
Kings, Chronicles, — no division of them, — Ezra 
and Nehemiah in one book ; Esther, Job, Isaiah, 
Jeremiah, including Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, 
and the twelve Minor Prophets in one book. Then 
the four poems are Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes 
and Canticles or Song of Solomon ; so that the 
books enumerated by Josephus are just what we 



CONVERSATION I. 27 

have. Josephus gives them as they were divided 
into volumes, or rolls of parchment. 

Edward. This is indeed very satisfactory. 

Mrs. S. The historical books were all written 
by prophets. Gad, Nathan, Iddo, Shemaiah, Jehu 
and Abijah are all mentioned as having written 
histories of different kings, and these writings are 
contained in Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. 

Jennie. Now I want to know what the Septua- 
gint is, that we often hear spoken of as if it were 
the Scriptures. 

Edward. The Septuagint, Jennie, is a transla- 
tion of the Old Testament in the Greek language. 
It was made in Egypt, by the order of Ptolemy 
Philadelphus, king of Egypt, between two and 
three hundred years before Christ. He established 
the Alexandrian Library, collecting all the volumes 
that could be found in the world. The Old Testa- 
ment was written in Hebrew ; and he employed 
seventy-two Jews — six from each tribe — to perform 
the work ; hence the title Septuagint, — seventy. 
Quotations in the New Testament are generally 
from this translation. 

Mrs. S. One word more in regard to these 
references to the Old Testament. There are, in 
the New Testament, quotations from nearly every 
book, and this is proof of their divine inspiration. 

Susie. And Paul declares that " all Scripture is 
given by inspiration of God." 

Jennie. And Peter says : " The prophecy came 



28 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of 
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 

Edward. Let me here give you something 
which to me proves the Bible true. I found it in 
an old manuscript : " Good men could not have 
written the Scriptures knowing what they wrote to 
be false ; and the excellent precepts and perfect 
examples everywhere found in them prove that 
they were not written by wicked men." Another 
evidence of divine inspiration, that I found in this 
old composition, was this : " The Bible, containing 
many books written at remote periods of time, — 
the exact correspondence of the different parts, is 
evidence that it is from God. Men, not divinely 
inspired, could not have brought forth such a 
volume." 

Mrs. S. These arguments do seem unanswer- 
able. I have also something to give you, quite as 
conclusive. I have recently read a book — " Christ 
and the Scriptures," by Rev. Adolph Saphir, an 
English author, — of which I cannot speak too 
highly ; and some of his thoughts I wish to give 
you. He says that " the Scripture is its own 
evidence," and gives five great facts that prove its 
heavenly origin. These are : first, its sublime 
doctrine ; second, prophecy ; third, that it stands 
alone — no other book like it ; fourth, its marvellous 
preservation ; fifth, its universal adaptation to all 
people of every class and condition. 

Edward. One of these proofs is " its sublime 



CONVERSATION I. 29 

doctrine ; " and this led me to think of the charac- 
ter of God as revealed in the Bible : so holy, just 
and true, so full of love, and so infinite in power ; 
and of the plan of salvation, altogether beyond the 
conception of any finite being. To compare the 
^mythology of Grecian sages with divine revelation ; 
what a contrast ! And when we look at the various 
schemes that man has devised for the saving of his 
soul, how are we impressed that the gospel plan is 
beyond the power of human thought ? 

Susie. How wonderful the fulfillment of proph- 
ecy, and how fully it proves that those who foretold 
what should come to pass, were inspired of God. 
How interesting it will be to find Christ in Moses 
and the Prophets. 

Jennie. That the Bible is the book of books, 
and there is no other like it, reminds me of the 
thoughts I had when comparing the Apocrypha 
with the Bible, and thinking it strange that it 
should be put within the same covers. 

Edward. I have often thought the preserva- 
tion of the Bible a miracle. How wonderful the 
way it has been kept, and that too by a people — the 
Jews — who thus preserved the very book which 
condemns their unbelief, their rejection of Christ. 

Mrs. S. The last fact, — its universal adaptation 
to all classes and conditions of people, is apparent 
to all who search the Scriptures. The wise philoso- 
pher, and the unlettered African ; the man of grey 
hairs, and the little child ; the king on his throne, 



30 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

and the slave at his toil ; each here finds a portion 
suited to his wants : just such a Saviour as he needs 
plainly made known, and his own duty equally 
plain. To-morrow evening you may give the books 
of the Bible and what you can learn of them. 



CONVERSATION II. 



THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE AND THEIR AUTHORS. 

CTUSIE. Here we are, mother, ready to tell 
X^ y° u what we know of the books of the Bible. 
I will give you the books of Moses, what the Jews 
call the Law : Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers 
Deuteronomy ; and also the meaning of the names. 
Genesis, beginning ; Exodus, departure ; Leviticus, 
Levitical law ; Numbers, numbering ; Deuteronomy, 
second law, or the law repeated. 

Jemiie. This is also called Pentateuch, or the 
Five Books. 

Susie. These books contain a great deal of 
history. 

Edward. Yes ; Genesis contains the account 
not only of the creation, the fall of man, and the 
flood, but of events in the world's history to the 
death of Joseph, two thousand three hundred and 
sixty-eight years. How ignorant we should be of 
these early ages but for the Bible. 

Mrs. Selwyn. It is here that we find the only 
history of the world before the flood, and of the 
founding of cities and empires by the sons of Noah, 
as Nineveh, Babel or Babylon, Assyria, Egypt. We 



32 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

should know little, but for this old book, of the 
origin and early history of the world. But the 
buried knowledge now being brought to light cor- 
responds with these records, and here and there an 
old name is retained. Damascus, in Syria, and 
Sidon, in Phenicia, stand to-day with the same 
name ; also Egypt occupies the same locality as 
when Mizraim, the grandson of Noah, established 
himself there, and is Egypt still. 

Jennie. And the Euphrates is the river that 
went through the garden of Eden, and the name 
never changed. 

Edward. Now, I want to give some dates. 
The other four books of Moses bring us down one 
hundred and eighty-five years later, or to 145 1 B. C. 
Then the twelve historical books, Joshua, Judges, 
Ruth, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II 
Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, give the his- 
tory of God's people for a little more than one 
thousand years ; and also mention events in other 
nations connected with them. The history closes 
with the book of Nehemiah. The last date given 
is 432 B. C. — the thirty-second year of the reign of 
Artaxerxes Longimanus, who began to reign 464 
B. C. Nehemiah went to Persia during this year,* 
and remained there " certain days." He then re- 
turned to Jerusalem ; and in the last chapter he 
gives an account of the evils that had resulted from 
intercourse with the heathen during his absence." 

* Nehemiah 13 : 6. 



CONVERSATION II. 33 

Jennie. Now let us go on in describing the 
books of the Bible. The books of poetry are Job, 
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, 
and Lamentations. 

Edward. The remainder are the books of the 
prophets : Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the 
Major Prophets ; and the Minor Prophets are, 
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, 
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and 
Malachi. Each prophet wrote the book called by 
his name. 

Susie. I always thought David wrote the 
Psalms ; but I find many were written by other 
persons, and some have no author given. Moses 
wrote the ninetieth ; Asaph and other musicians 
seem to have written quite a number, and two are 
for Solomon or by him. 

Jennie. Solomon wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes 
and Canticles, and Jeremiah Lamentations. 

Edward. Now for the authors of the histor- 
ical books. Joshua, no doubt, wrote the book that 
bears his name. Samuel, the last judge and the 
first prophet, is thought to have written Judges, 
Ruth, and the first book of Samuel ; and the suc- 
ceeding prophets continue the history to the time 
of the captivity. Ezra and Nehemiah give an 
account of the return of the captives to their own 
land, and Mordecai relates their deliverance from 
Haman's plot for their destruction, and the story of 
Queen Esther. 
3 



34 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. The annals of the nation were called 
Chronicles. These books were probably written by 
Ezra. He, by divine direction, revised all the 
sacred writings, and arranged them according to 
their present order. The Jews regard him as a 
second Moses. 

Jennie. Now please tell us something about 
Job. 

Edward. I found an article in the Religious 
Encyclopedia in regard to the book of Job. It 
does not seem to be known when or by whom it 
was written, or to what nation Job belonged. 

Mrs. S. There is no certainty in regard to 
either of these points ; still Job was evidently a 
real character ; and there are some things in the 
narrative that help us to come to some decision as 
to who he was, and where he lived. 

Edward. It is a very ancient book ; probably 
the first ever written. 

Mrs. S. This is doubtless true. Between 
Abraham and Moses were five generations. Job 
belonged to this period, and probably the first part 
of it. The land of Uz was on the borders of 
Edom, to the east, and Job may have been a 
descendant of Esau ; though it may be that Huz, 
a son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, peopled this 
region, and Job descended from him. Elihu is 
called the Buzite, probably of the family of Buz, 
another son of Nahor ; Eliphaz is a Temanite, and 
he must have been of the race of Esau ; Bildad, a 



CONVERSATION II. 35 

Shuhite, from Shuah, a son of Abraham by 
Keturah. These nations were in the northern part 
of Arabia. The book is a dramatic poem ; and we 
may believe that Job recorded the different parts, 
though we may also believe that Moses, when in 
the land of Midian, by divine direction, wrote the 
history of Job, and put the parts together. 

Edward. That Job w r as a real character, and 
a man of great eminence, we know from Ezekiel's 
giving him, with Noah and Daniel, as an example 
of righteousness. 

Susie. And the apostle James refers to him as 
one well known, when he says : " Ye have heard of 
the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the 
Lord ; that the Lord is pitiful, and of tender 
mercy." 

Jennie. " He taketh the wise in their own 
craftiness" — i Cor. 3 : 19, is a quotation from the 
book of Job. This is an evidence that it is 
inspired. 

Mrs. S. The divine inspiration of this book 
is unquestioned ; but that it may be understood, it 
needs attentive study. The more it is read the 
more we shall be impressed that it is no human 
composition. 

Edward. In some parts there is great sublimity 
and beauty ; as for instance, the description of 
wisdom — Chap. 28. 

Mrs. S. The divine attributes are clearly 
unfolded ; but we are especially taught this great 



36 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

truth : that He who is infinite in love as well as in 
power, for wise purposes permits evil and suffering 
to come upon His children. 

Edward. This seems to be the great design of 
the book. 

Susie. But Job's three friends say that afflic- 
tions are sent as a punishment for wickedness ; and 
therefore Job must be very bad. 

Mrs. S. They accuse him of hypocrisy also, 
as he professed to be very good ; while Job, con- 
scious of his integrity, justifies himself. The 
contest is long, and sometimes the language is 
bitter. 

Edward. As soon as they stop talking, Elihu, 
a young man who had listened to the controversy, 
stands forth to speak, as he says, in God's behalf, 
and tries to set them right. 

Mrs. S. His thoughts are very forcible, and 
full of truth. 

Jennie. Then, from the whirlwind the voice 
of the Lord is heard, and, by a series of wonderful 
questions, Job is humbled before God, and is led 
to feel himself a poor sinner. He says : " I abhor 
myself and repent in dust and ashes." 

Susie. His repentance was accepted, and he 
was forgiven, and his last days were better than the 
first ; for he had an equal number of children, and 
twice as much property. 

Jennie. And he lived one hundred and forty 
years to enjoy it. 



CONVERSATION II. 37 

Mrs. S. He was happy, because he had faith 
in God. I should like to say much more of this 
good man, but we can spend no more time with 
him. I wish you now to give the books of the 
New Testament and their authors. 

Susie. The authors of the New Testament 
are, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, 
James and Jude. John wrote the Gospel, three 
Epistles and the Revelation; Luke, the Gospel and 
the Acts of the Apostles ; Paul, fourteen Epistles : 
Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, 
Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, 
I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews ; and 
the other books bear the name of their authors. 
There are twenty-seven books in the New Testa- 
ment, and in the whole Bible sixty-six. 

Edward. And the two parts into which it is 
divided, fit exactly, making one complete whole. 
Now you will please let me relate an anecdote of 
which I am reminded. Ned Franks, a Christian, 
was endeavoring to convince Isaacs, a Jew, of the 
truth of the New Testament. " The Old Testa- 
ment," said he, "you receive, and it has been so 
carefully guarded for thousands of years, that to 
keep it pure every word and even letter has been 
counted. Now, if you had half of a king's letter — the 
page divided in the middle — and it had been kept 
under lock and key, so that it could not have been 
changed, suppose another part was brought to you 
as belonging to this same letter, — how could you 



38 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

prove it to be the other part ? " " By comparing it," 
said the Jew, "with that which I had kept." " And 
if you found that each portion exactly matched, 
and that the two halves made a perfect whole?" 
" Then, of course, I should know that it was 
genuine." "This," said Franks, "is exactly the case 
with the New and Old Testament : neither, by 
itself, can be regarded as a whole ; but place them 
side by side, and they exactly fit together ; the 
truths partly shown in the one, are completed in 
the other. The New Testament bears witness to 
the Old, and the Old to the New ; and together 
they make a complete whole, — how can we but 
believe that both are the word of God ?" 

Susie. • I think the Jew must have been convinced. 

Edward. I presume he was ; but perhaps was 
not willing to say so. 

Mrs. S. And now it shall be our privilege to 
compare the two divisions of this revelation from 
God, and thus become impressed with their divine 
origin and their sacred truths. One special object 
shall be to find Christ in Moses and the Prophets. 
This will be by direct prophecies, and by typical 
representations of the great Author of our Salva- 
tion, and of the glorious plan of redemption that, 
from all eternity, was ever present in the counsels 
of the Divine Trinity ; and by comparing the New 
Testament with the Old we shall find all to have 
been fulfilled. 



CONVERSATION III. 



BIBLE LANGUAGE. FIRST PROMISE. THE ANTE- 
DILUVIANS. 

TTRS. SELWYN. In searching into this sa- 
J ( cred book, we must ever keep in mind that 
it is the word of God, and not of man ; and that 
we need the influences of the Holy Spirit to en- 
lighten our minds and guide us into all truth. We 
must come with faith in God, and a readiness to 
learn of Him. 

Susie. But it is sometimes hard to see clearly 
the exact meaning. 

Mrs. S. We must pray as David did : " Open 
thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things 
out of thy law." The precepts of God's word are 
plain, as we can all see as we read the ten com- 
mandments, that even a child can understand ; and 
the way of salvation is plainly made known. 

Edward. But the Bible is a revelation from 
God, from him who is infinite in his purposes, 
infinite in his perfections, his ways past finding 
out ; and finite beings cannot comprehend what is 
infinite. 

Mrs. S. When we find in the Bible that which 



40 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

we cannot comprehend, instead of rejecting it we 
should receive the truth, reminding ourselves as it 
is from Him who is infinite, it is therefore not 
strange that it is above our comprehension. 

Edward. God reveals himself to us by the 
light of nature as well as by the written word ; and 
there are mysteries in the natural world, as in reve- 
lation, quite similar to each other ; why, then, not 
believe what is mysterious in revelation, as well as 
what is incomprehensible in nature ? 

Mrs. S. Also the realities of the unseen world 
are beyond our conceptions, and human language is 
insufficient to express the vast themes that in this 
volume are unfolded ; hence the use of figurative 
language ; things seen are employed to represent 
things unseen. In no other way could mortals form 
any conception of these amazing realities. These 
symbols are drawn from all the kingdoms of nature. 
Thus fire represents the wrath of God, water is an 
emblem of regeneration, oil a symbol of the Holy 
Spirit, as it is a source of light, and the names of 
Christ, so many and so varied, indicate the offices 
he performs, and the blessings he imparts. 

Jennie. And mother, what is a type ? 

Mrs. S. A type is one thing representing 
another ; thus objects, persons and events repre- 
sent Christ ; his character, and the plan of redemp- 
tion. A type may be considered a "prophecy in 
action, one in nature with what it represents." 
Thus Cyrus was a type of Christ by his proclaiming 



CONVERSATION III. 41 

deliverance to the Jews in Babylon. Here I want 
to give you a quotation which I think very beauti- 
ful. "By prophecy and promise, by sacrifice and 
ceremonial, in history and in psalm, through sym- 
bol and fact, by dark saying and plain ; the one 
great theme of the Old Testament is Christ the 
Messiah, the Son of God and Son of Man, the Re- 
deemer of a lost world." 

Je?inie. And now, mother, let us commence 
with the first promise of a Saviour. 

Susie. Yes, the promise that the " seed of the 
woman shall bruise the serpent's head." But I 
never noticed before, that the promise was given 
before the penalty was pronounced. 

Jennie. When God says, I will put enmity 
between thee and the woman, and between thy 
seed and her seed ; it must mean between Satan 
and the woman, for then comes the promise : " It " 
— the seed of the woman, — " shall bruise thy head, 
and thou shalt bruise his heel." 

Mrs. S. Yes, you are right ; but the serpent, 
the instrument used by the tempter, is also cursed, 
and from an innocent animal becomes a hateful 
reptile ; still the head to be crushed is that of Satan ; 
denoting his final overthrow. The bruising of a 
heel implies a contest, but not a fatal issue. 

Edward. It seems to me that in this declara- 
tion, we find the character of events in the world's 
history from that day to this : the contest between 
the friends and the enemies of God. 



42 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. The more we study the history of the 
Church, the more we shall realize this ; the history 
in ages past, as well as the present time. Since the 
Saviour rose triumphant, having completed man's 
redemption, the contest has deepened. Every 
machination that hellish hate could devise, has 
been brought into action ; though the arch-deceiver 
has been sometimes foiled by his own weapons ; 
for " the blood of the martyrs has been the seed of 
the church." His greatest success has been, and 
still is, in transforming himself, so as to appear as 
an angel of light. 

Susie. What a solemn thought, that we are 
each of us engaged in this contest, fighting for 
Satan or for Christ. 

Jennie. Mother, there is a question I want to 
ask. God said to Adam in regard to the forbidden 
fruit : " In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt 
surely die," yet Adam lived nine hundred and thirty- 
nine years. 

Mrs. S. By looking at the marginal reading, 
you would have found a better translation : " Dying 
thou shalt die," yet there was a death in the soul, 
that at once took possession of the whole being. 
Paul thus explains it : " By one man sin entered 
into the world, and death by sin ; and so death 
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." 
Spiritual death was immediate, the death of the 
body at a later period. 

Jennie. Thank you, mother, for this explanation. 



CONVERSATION III. 43 

Mrs. S. Adam and Eve no doubt repented, and 
received with faith the divine promise ; though 
they did not understand when nor how the seed 
of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. At 
the birth of Cain, Eve exclaimed : " I have gotten 
a man the Lord," the word from being supplied by 
the translators. She, no doubt, believed him to be 
the " promised seed of the woman." What a dis- 
appointment to the believing mother, when he 
became the first murderer. 

Edward. Mother, do you not think sacrifices 
were instituted immediately after the fall ? I should 
think so, and that the skins they used for a cover- 
ing were of the animals slain for sacrifice. 

Mrs. S. Yes, I think when the promise was 
given, our first parents were taught that the animal 
offered on the altar was the type of Him, by whom 
they should be restored to that likeness of God 
which by their disobedience they had lost ; the 
blood that was shed representing the blood that 
should be shed for sin. Thus faith in the promised 
Redeemer bringing forth the fruits of obedience 
was then the only way of salvation. 

Edward. Faith and repentance were therefore 
necessary that the offering should be accepted. 

Mrs. S. Yes, for without a sense of sin, no one 
would feel the need of pardon, nor of shedding 
blood as an evidence of this. Abel, in offering the 
lamb, showed that he felt the need of a Saviour, 
and that by faith he rested upon the promised One, 



44 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

who should be of the seed of the woman ; but 
Cain, feeling no sense of sin, nor need of forgive- 
ness ; no faith in the promised Deliverer, brought 
only the fruits of the earth ; from what motive we 
cannot tell. His offering therefore was not accept- 
ed by God, and with envious hate he slew his 
brother. 

Jennie. What was the sign that an offering was 
accepted ? 

Mrs. S. It was probably fire from heaven con- 
suming the sacrifice. 

Edward. I never before so clearly understood 
what was the sin of Cain ; nor what constituted 
true piety in Old Testament saints. 

Susie. The descendants of Cain seem to have 
walked in their father's footsteps, and to have been 
given up to wickedness. 

Jennie. At the same time they were ingenious. 
Many useful inventions, as musical instruments, 
tools from brass and iron, and tents or houses to 
live in, were all invented by Cainites. 

Susie. The genealogy in the line of Seth is given 
down to the time of the flood, and the age of each. 
Of the ten patriarchs of this period, I find two dis- 
tinguished by this mark : " They walked with God." 
These two were Enoch and Noah, and they, with 
Abel, are found among the worthies enumerated by 
Paul, in Heb. n, as eminent for their faith. 

Jennie. Enoch was also distinguished by being 
translated. It says in Genesis that " he was not, 



CONVERSATION III. 45 

for God took him ; " but Paul says : * " By faith 
Enoch was translated that he should not see death." 
In Jude there is a prophecy of Enoch of the judg- 
ment day : " Behold the Lord cometh with ten 
thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon 
all ; " f but it is not given in Genesis. 

Mrs. S. Enoch not only warned the wicked of 
a coming judgment, but his righteous deeds were a 
reproof to them. They therefore hated him, and 
would have done violence to this holy man, but 
God delivered him from their malicious designs by 
taking him to heaven without dying. 

Edward. Here I am reminded of Milton's des- 
cription of Enoch, which I will repeat : 

" For daring to be just, 
And utter odious truth, that God would come 

To judge them with his saints ; 
Him, old and young had seized with violent hands, 
Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence 
Unseen amid the throng. Him, the Most High 
Did as thou sawest, receive to walk with God 
High in salvation, and the realms of bliss, 
Exempt from death. 

Mrs. S. With this beautiful quotation, we must 
bring our evening exercise to a close. To-morrow 
evening Noah and the Flood. 



* Heb. 12. 15. 
t Jude, 15. 



CONVERSATION IV. 



THE ARK AND THE FLOOD. FULFILLMENT OF NOAH'S 

PROPHECY. 

irXRS. SELWYN [entering the library] : What a 
* I happy mother I am, that my children prefer 
the society of patriarchs and prophets to that of 
the giddy throng, who seek only for amusement. 
We closed last evening with the translation of 
Enoch. He was the great-grandfather of Noah. 
For a time the descendants of Seth seem to have 
been worthy of being called the sons of God ; but 
by associating with the race of Cain, and taking 
their daughters — here called the daughters of men — 
for wives, they were led into great wickedness, and 
the whole earth became corrupt. 

Susie. How plainly this shows the danger from 
evil associates, and from bringing into a family one 
who has no fear of God. 

Jennie. It shows, also, the power of woman : 
that the mother has more influence over children 
than the father. It was the daughters that led 
these people into sin. Theyfnot only enticed their 
husbands, but they let the little ones have their own 
way, and do all the evil they chose. 



CONVERSATION IV. 47 

Edward. Strange that all became wicked but 
Noah ; but some may have been taken away from 
the evil to come. 

Mrs. S. Noah was a preacher of righteousness 
for one hundred and twenty years. He declared 
the anger of God against sin, and that all who 
would not accept the refuge which he was com- 
manded to prepare, would be swept away by a flood. 

Susie. The people do not seem to have treated 
him as they did Enoch ; but I dare say they made 
all manner of fun of him, and of the curious house 
he was building. 

Jennie. I have no doubt many thought, that if 
the flood came, they would contrive by some means 
to get into the ark ; but God shut the door before 
it began to rain, and their pleading to be let in was 
of no avail. 

Edward. This may have been the first rain ; for 
we are told (Gen. 2 : 6) that there went up a mist 
from the earth, and watered the whole face of the 
ground ; and even if it afterward came down in 
showers, such a pouring down as this, was not 
according to the order of nature. Noah entered 
the ark on one Sabbath, and on the next "the 
windows of Heaven were opened," and " the 
fountains of the great deep broken up." The 
week had probably been spent in fun and frolic by 
the people ; but what a change ! Nothing could 
now be heard but shrieks and cries for mercy : " Oh 
Noah, do let us into the ark !" 



48 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. The ark represented the promised 
Saviour : a refuge from the storm and tempest — 
God's righteous indignation. " By faith Noah 
prepared an ark to the saving of his house ; by 
the which he condemned the world, and became heir 
of the righteousness which is by faith."* It was 
Noah's faith that distinguished him from the rest 
of the world. 

Edward. Nothing is said of the faith of the 
other members of his family ; and God says : 
" Thee have I seen righteous before me, in this 
generation." 

Mrs. S. Noah's wife and children were pre- 
served from the flood by their faith in Noah. They 
proved their faith by their obedience to his require- 
ments. Noah was their saviour, and thus a type of 
Christ. 

Jennie. I wonder what was the form of the ark ? 

Edward. I presume it was something like a ship, 
and about the size of the steamer Great Eastern. 
It had three stories, and on the top was a window 
one cubit wide, so that the sides were sloping. A 
cubit is twenty-one inches. 

Susie. The water continued to rise higher and 
higher for five months, until all the mountains were 
covered, and then it began to go down. Noah, as 
he saw it grow less, sent out birds to see if they 
found a place to light upon. How glad he must 
have been when the dove brought him an olive leaf. 
*Heb. 11: 7. 



CONVERSATION IV. 49 

Edward. This makes me think of the Apamean 
medal, of which I have been reading. Apamea, 
according to tradition, was near Mt. Ararat. On 
the medal is an ark or chest floating upon the 
water, with a man and woman. On the lid is a 
bird, another is balanced in the air, and another is 
holding in its claws an olive branch. 

Susie. The ark rested upon Mt. Ararat, and 
there God opened the ark, and Noah and his family 
stood once more upon the land. They had been 
one year and ten days in the ark. 

Mrs. S. The first thought of the patriarch was 
a sacrifice to God ; and he received the promise, 
that the waters of a flood should never again deso- 
late the earth, but that there should always be seed- 
time and harvest. 

Jennie. He was directed to the rainbow as the 
sign of its fulfillment, and I remember a verse 
about this : 

" This be the emblem saith the Lord, 
Of grace to fallen man restored ; 
When all is dark, lost in despair, 
Then draweth my salvation near." 

Edward. How true that we everywhere find 
Christ. Like the ark, He is the refuge. The rain- 
bow represents the new and living way ; and Noah, 
as the saviour of his family, was a type of Jesus, — 
the Saviour of lost sinners. 

Jennie. I wonder if the sons of Noah became 
true believers while in the ark? 



50 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. I am sure Ham did not. Some years 
after this, when Noah, having drank too much 
wine — probably not knowing its strength — lay 
uncovered in his tent, Ham, with his son Canaan, 
made sport of the good man's fall, telling the other 
brothers of it. This is just the way wicked people 
do now, — rejoicing when Christians take a wrong step. 

Edward. How different the spirit of Shem and 
Japheth, which was manifest by taking pains to 
cover his nakedness without seeing it. 

Mrs. S. For this the father was moved by the 
Holy Ghost to pronounce a blessing upon them, 
and a curse upon the others. Ham, though espe- 
cially the guilty one, is not named as receiving the 
curse, only as it rested upon his posterity by 
Canaan, though, in some translations, the passage 
is rendered : " Cursed be Ham, the father of Ca- 
naan." The curse upon Canaan was fulfilled, when 
the land belonging to his posterity, was for their 
great wickedness given to the Israelites ; the 
people either destroyed or made " hewers of wood 
and drawers of water," thus becoming the " servant 
of servants unto his brethren." The blessing upon 
Shem indicated that from him should come the 
promised Deliverer. Japheth should be enlarged, 
and dwell in the tents of Shem, thus sharing in 
this great privilege. We know that the Messiah 
was of the line of Shem, and the promise to 
Japheth is fulfilled, in that all the enlightened 
nations of the world are of the race of Japheth. 



CONVERSATION IV. 5 I 

Jennie, Then we are descended from Japheth. 

Edward. Ham was the Cain of the sons of 
Noah. From his son, Cush, came the Babel- 
builders : that unbelieving people who attempted 
to build a tower to reach to heaven, so that they 
might not be scattered abroad ; God defeating 
their purpose by causing them to speak different 
languages ; their effort to keep together being thus 
the means of their being scattered. Africa was 
peopled by the posterity of Ham, and in the condi- 
tion of its inhabitants we find a fulfillment of this 
prophecy. 

Jennie. Before leaving the ante-diluvians, I 
want to say a word more about them. Methuselah 
died the year of the flood, 1656 A. M., and as his 
age and Adam's added together make 1899, they 
must have lived two hundred and forty-three years 
at the same time. Shem was contemporary with 
Methuselah ninety-eight years, and with Isaac fifty 
years ; so that Abraham and Isaac may have been 
familiar with the man, between whom and Adam 
was but one person. 

Mrs. S. Well, Jennie, you have traced out your 
calculation very nicely. To-morrow evening we 
will spend with Abraham. 



CONVERSATION V. 



CALL OF ABRAHAM. MELCHIZEDEK. PROMISE RE- 
NEWED. PROPHECY OF ISHMAEL. 

VISIT OF ANGELS. 

| ENNIE. The history of Abraham is very in- 
(2/ teresting. 

Mrs. Selwyn. We may look at him as the founder 
of the Hebrew nation, or as the father of believers — 
the man of God most eminent for his faith. I sup- 
pose you know when he lived. 

Edward. About midway between the Creation 
and Christ. The call of Abraham was 192 1 B. C. 
His age at that time was seventy-five years. 

Mrs. S. This is an important epoch ; the estab- 
lishment of the visible church, or the kingdom of 
God in the world. 

Edward. At this time, as before the flood, there 
was a general departure from God. 

Susie. Idolatry was the great sin. 

Mrs. S. Abram, like Noah, was faithful among 
the faithless. He was directed by God to leave his 
country, and go to a distant land, and "he went 
out not knowing whither he went." The promise 
of God was : "I will make of thee a great nation,'' 



CONVERSATION V. 53 

and "in thee shall all families of the earth be 
blessed." Thus he was assured that the promised 
Deliverer should be of his seed, and I think that 
by faith he beheld him ; for Christ says : " He saw 
my day and was glad." 

Edward. He was then living at Ur. His father 
and his brother Nahor, went with him as far as 
Haran, and there they stopped. 

Jennie. His father Terah, was I presume an 
infirm old man, and Abram staid with him till he 
died. Haran, I think, was not far from Ur. 

Susie. God again directed Abram to continue 
his journey, and he obeyed ; but Nahor did not 
leave Haran. Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his nephew, 
who, as Josephus says, was his adopted son, were 
the only friends that went with him. 

Jennie. To Canaan they came, strangers in a 
strange land ; but God was with them. 

Edward. Here they became rich in flocks and 
herds, with a large number of servants. 

Jennie. And this led to the separation between 
Abram and Lot, for their servants quarreled. Lot 
chose a home among the wicked people of Sodom, 
because the land was rich. 

Edward. Abram was a true friend to Lot ; for 
when he was taken prisoner in war — the first war of 
which there is any account in history — Abram 
armed his own servants and rescued him. 

Mrs. S. It was at this time that Abram met 
Melchizedek, to whom he gave tithes, and from 
whom he received a blessing. 



54 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. Paul refers to this meeting in the 
seventh of Hebrews. 

Mrs. S. You may read this chapter. [Edward 
reads] : This Melchizedek, king of Salem, was of 
the race of Canaan, which lay under a curse, yet 
he was priest of the Most High God, and thus a 
type of Christ, who bore the curse for us. Paul in 
proof of this, quotes a prophecy in Ps. no : 4, in 
which David declares the Messiah " a priest forever, 
after the order of Melchizedek." 

Edward. Paul's argument is, that Melchizedek 
was greater than Abraham, since Abraham gave 
him tithes, and received from him a blessing ; and 
therefore greater than the priests of the house of 
Aaron, descended from Abraham ; their priesthood 
temporary, his perpetual ; a king as well as a priest. 
So Christ is priest forever, and king as well as priest, 
as was Melchizedek. 

Susie. I am very glad of this explanation, for I 
could never understand about Melchizedek. 

Mrs. S. Abram's faith was still tried ; for while 
a posterity was promised to him as numerous as the 
stars of heaven, yet he then had no child. 

Susie. Again and again the promise was repeat- 
ed, and yet it was twenty-five years from the call of 
Abram to the birth of Isaac. 

Edward. But " he believed God, and it was 
imputed unto him for righteousness. " 

Susie. Still he desired a token of its fulfillment. 

Edward. He received it, but with it a horror of 



CONVERSATION V. 55 

great darkness — an emblem of the bondage his 
posterity should endure before they take possession 
of this land. 

Mrs. S. Four hundred years should pass before 
this promised possession ; and from the birth of 
Isaac to the entrance into Canaan was four hundred 
years. 

Jennie. This was the bondage in Egypt. 

Mrs. S. God also declares " That nation whom 
they shall serve will I judge ;" and this judgment 
still rests on Egypt. 

Edward. In regard to the number of his de- 
scendants, how wonderful the fulfillment of proph- 
ecy. A modern writer says : " The Jews seem 
as numerous as the stars of their own Psalmist. 
' There is no speech or language where their 
voice is not heard.' Europe is overrun with them. 
They are found in China, India, Central Asia, Africa, 
and indeed in all the countries of the earth." 

Mrs. S. While the fulfillment of the promise 
was delayed, Abram was induced by Sarai to take 
his servant Hagar as a concubine, and by her he 
had Ishmael. 

Edward. By this son a numerous posterity was 
promised, but not Him in whom " all families of the 
earth should be blessed," and this was the desire of 
his heart. 

Susie. The posterity of Ishmael was a wonder- 
ful evidence of the fulfillment of prophecy : their 
" Hands against every man, and every man's hand 



56 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

against them ; " as was declared by the angel of the 
Lord. 

Jennie. What people are descended from Ish- 
mael ? I do not know. 

Susie. The Bedouin Arabs, a people that are 
the greatest robbers in the world, and that have 
never been conquered. 

Edward. This has been attempted by the most 
powerful nations, but without success. The Arabs 
are a living witness of the fulfillment of prophecy. 

Mrs. S. The Arabs trace their descent from 
Ishmael. They circumcise their children when 
thirteen, as Ishmael was of that age when circum- 
cised. The Arabs and the Jews are the only nations 
that have come down from ancient times unmixed 
with any other race. 

Susie. When Abram was ninety-nine and Sarai 
ninety, God promised that they should h-ave a son 
the very next year. Their names were changed, 
Abram, to Abraham, the father of a great multitude, 
and Sarai to Sarah, the princess. 

Edward. The rite of circumcision was also 
instituted as a token of faith in the covenant. All 
the males must be circumcised, servants as well as 
children, as a pledge to train them up for God. 

Jennie. How interesting the account of the visit 
of the angels. Abraham sees three men slowly 
walking by his tent. He goes to meet them, bows 
to the ground, and invites them to stop and partake 
of some refreshment. 



CONVERSATION V. 5 7 

Susie. They accept his invitation, and sit down 
on the grass in the cool shades, Abraham bringing 
water to wash their feet. Sarah quickly prepares a 
nice meal, and Abraham attends to all their wants. 

Mrs. S. Abraham says to one of them : " My 
Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass 
not away I pray thee from thy servant." Ithinkhe 
recognizes him as one who had before visited him 
with promise of blessings. 

Edward. Two of the men leave and go to 
Sodom, to tell Lot that by morning's dawn he must 
hasten from the city, for God has sent them to 
destroy it. Abraham, meanwhile, being informed 
of the divine purpose, pleads with the angel of the 
Lord who has remained with him, that for the sake 
of the righteous persons dwelling there, Sodom 
might be spared. Beginning with fifty, he comes 
down to ten, and is assured that, for ten's sake it 
shall be spared. He thought surely there must be 
ten, but there were not ; for this city was destroyed 
with the others. 

Jennie. I do not think any of Lot's family were 
righteous. We know the judgment upon his wife. 
Two daughters would not leave, and those who 
went were little better. 

Susie. How gracious was God to send messen- 
gers from heaven to save his servant. 

Mrs. S. Here is a point I wish you to notice : 
The Angel of the Lord is Christ. Abraham ad- 
dresses Him as the infinite Being with whom are 



58 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

the issues of life and death ; thus proving His 
divinity. To-morrow evening we will spend with 
Isaac. 



CONVERSATION VI. 



THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. RENEWAL OF THE 

COVENANT. ISAAC AND REBECCA. JACOB 

AND ESAU. 

CTUSIE. Isaac was born as God had promised. 
4^ Jennie. And his name — laughter — seems to 
express the joy of his aged parents at his birth. 

Edward. But the very next thing related, is the 
trial that God laid upon Abraham. Just think of 
the command : " Take now thy son, thine only son, 
Isaac, whom thou lovest, and offer him for a burnt 
offering." Slay that son — that child of promise \ 
" How then can thy promise be fulfilled" — he might 
have exclaimed. 

Mrs. Selwyn. But no — in silence he prepares to 
obey, and with the morning's dawn is on his way 
to the appointed place. For three days the bloody 
deed in view ! 

Susie. And when Isaac says to his father : 
" Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the 
lamb for a burnt offering.", what a triumph of faith 
in that holy man's reply : u My son, God will pro- 
vide himself a lamb." 

Jennie. Yet he could not then tell the dear child 
God's command. 



60 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. But when the altar was built, and the 
wood laid in order, then was the moment of trial to 
both father and son. Isaac seems to have quietly 
submitted, and was laid upon the altar. Then the 
hand is stretched out for the bloody deed, but at 
the same moment is the voice from heaven : "Abra- 
ham, Abraham " — " lay not thy hand upon the lad ; 
for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou 
hast not withheld thy son — thine only son from me." 

Mrs. S. Thus Isaac was a type of Christ. God 
gave his only begotten Son — upon him the stroke 
fell ; but on the third day he burst the bonds of the 
tomb, and rose triumphant. Three days Isaac was 
under sentence of death, and to the believing 
father, his deliverance was as life from the dead ; 
" from whence he received him in a figure," says the 
apostle. You perceive how full of Christ is this 
Old Testament history. 

Jennie. Yes, we might call it : " The gospel 
according to Moses." 

Edward. Isaac was now twenty-five. He no 
doubt beheld the promised Messiah, who should be 
of his seed. 

Susie. God did provide a lamb ; for the blood 
of the ram poured out upon that altar, represented 
the blood of Christ. 

Jennie. Abraham called the place Jehovah Jireh 
— " the Lord will pro vide" — a most appropriate name. 

Mrs. S. This was in the land of Moriah, and 
upon the mountain pointed out by God, he was to 



CONVERSATION VI. 01 

sacrifice his son. This was the site of the city of 
Jerusalem. The temple was on Mt. Moriah, and 
the place of sacrifice may have been Mt. Calvary. 

Edward, God thus proved Abraham's faith. 
Tempt is not the best word to be used. 

Susie. I love to look into that tent on the return 
of Abraham and Isaac. I do not think Abraham 
had told Sarah God's command. 

Jennie. No ; for her objections might have led 
him to think God could not mean him to do such 
a deed. 

Mrs. S. Your opinion of Sarah may be correct, 
yet it seems to me that Abraham did not tell her, 
because of the grief she would feel during their 
absence. She had not his faith, and would have no 
hope. 

Edward. Another important event is here re- 
corded. While on this mountain, the Angel of the 
Lord calls to him the second time from heaven. 
He renews the covenant with his servant, promising 
a seed as numerous as the stars, or as the sand 
upon the sea-shore, possessing the gate of their 
enemies ; and that in his " seed shall all the nations 
of the earth be blessed." He confirms this covenant 
by an oath : " By myself have I sworn ; " thus 
proving that he is God himself. How fully these 
promises are fulfilled. 

Susie. The next event is the death of Sarah, and 
the purchase of a burial place. This was at Hebron. 
Isaac was now thirty-seven years old. 



62 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. A wife for Isaac is the next thing, and 
for this Abraham looks to Haran. 

Susie. He seems to have his eye on Rebecca, a 
granddaughter of his brother Nahor. 

Mrs. S. The special condition is that she must 
be willing to come to Canaan. 

Jennie. His good old servant Eliezer was just 
the one to send on this important errand. 
- Edward. The whole narrative gives a beautiful 
picture of the blessedness of those who look to God 
for guidance with a willing and obedient spirit. 

Susie. Each seems to have been pleased with 
the other, and their married life a happy one. 

Jennie. But there was one black spot on Rebec- 
ca's character. 

Edward. This is true, and the sacred writers do 
not seek to hide faults ; they describe characters 
just as they are. 

Jessie. But I cannot help wondering how she 
could require a child to tell a lie on such a solemn 
occasion as this — receiving the blessing which God 
would inspire his father to give. 

Mrs. S. The divine promise at the birth of the 
children was given to Jacob ; but Rebecca's confi- 
dence in this promise seems to have been so shaken, 
that she thought a falsehood necessary to prevent 
his father from giving it to Esau. What a want of 
faith in God. 

Edward. I do not think Rebecca sought divine 
direction, but laid her own plan for helping out the 



CONVERSATION VI. 6$ 

purpose of God ; and it is so now with people ; 
they do not ask God to direct them in doing what 
they know is wrong. 

Mrs. S. We here see how important to watch 
and pray, lest we dishonor God. 

Jennie. What a difference in the character of 
the two brothers ; Jacob feared God, while Esau 
was devoted to his own selfish pleasures. 

Edward. Paul calls him a " profane person, who 
for one morsel of meat sold his birthright ; " a sin- 
gle " mess of pottage." 

Airs. S. To be impressed with the Apostle's 
condemnation of Esau,* we must consider the priv- 
ileges secured to him who possessed the birthright. 
The blessings promised to Abraham and renewed 
to Isaac, should descend to this favored son. In 
the counsels of God this inheritance belonged to 
Jacob, and by him was greatly prized ; still for a 
time it was in the possession of Esau, and of his 
own free will he gave it up ; preferring present 
pleasure to future blessings both temporal and spirit- 
ual. Do we see anything like this in the conduct 
of people now ? 

Susie. Why yes, mother ; how many prefer sen- 
sual pleasures to an inheritance in the kingdom of 
heaven. 

Jennie. How many sell their temporal and eter- 
nal interests for strong drink, or some worldly 
amusement. 



* Heb. 12 : i6« 



64 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. But as the birthright secured the land 
of Canaan, I should have thought Esau would have 
held on to it. 

Mrs. S. He seems to have reasoned in this way. 
I am about to die, and cannot have the benefit of it 
myself ; and I do not care to look after my poster- 
ity. In regard to being the ancestor of Him in 
whom " all families of the earth shall be blessed ; " 
he may have had thoughts like these : I do not 
know anything about this " seed of the woman," 
this person who is to be such a great blessing to the 
world ; but I do know what a good meal is when I 
am hungry. As my brother Jacob has his heart so 
set upon being the ancestor of this unknown per- 
sonage ; I think I had better take the comfort of 
his pottage, and let him have the birthright. 

Jennie. And then he calls : "Jacob, Jacob, give 
me the pottage, and you may have the birthright;" 
showing how little he valued it. 

Susie. How happy was Jacob ; but he wanted 
the possession sure, so Esau gave him the oath that it 
should be his. While Esau is swallowing the pot- 
tage, Jacob, I am sure, is giving thanks to God for 
this precious gift. 

Jennie. When Isaac was blessing him whom he 
supposed to be Esau, he says nothing of the bless- 
ing of Abraham as resting upon him ; but he says 
what was true of the posterity of Jacob ; that he 
should be " lord over his brethren." 

Edward. And to Esau he said : " Thou shalt 



CONVERSATION VI. 65 

serve thy brother." This was fulfilled ; for David 
" Put garrisons throughout all Edom, and all they 
of Edom became David's servants,'' * He also says ; 
"Thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck ; " 
and this was fulfilled when Jehoram was king of 
Judah.f 

Jennie. But how angry was Esau at his brother. 
He charged him with taking his birthright as well 
as his blessing ; though the sale of the birthright 
was his own offer. 

Mrs. S. With the spirit of Cain, he sought to 
lay violent hands on his brother ; and to escape his 
fury, Jacob was forced to leave his parents and his 
home. At the departure of Jacob his father gave 
him a blessing, assuring him that the covenant 
made with Abraham was his inheritance. He left 
privately and without an attendant, but God was 
with him, and he was safe from harm. Isaac was 
now living at Beersheba, in the southern part of the 
land. 

Edward. His father directed him to go to Ha- 
ran ; the object, to find a wife. 

Jennie. It was quite time for this important mat- 
ter, for he was more than forty. Esau when forty 
had married two idolatrous women, much to the 
grief of his parents. 

Susie. How happy Jacob was as he pursued his 
lonely way. 

*2 Sam. 8 : 14. 
f 2 Chron. 21 : 8. 

5 



66 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. How beautiful the account of his night 
at Bethel, where he took a stone for his pillow, and 
dreamed of the ladder from earth to heaven, with 
angels ascending and descending upon it. 

Mrs. S. For this evening we must leave him in 
this sacred place. We will continue his history to- 
morrow evening. 



CONVERSATION VII. 



JACOB AT BETHEL. JACOB AT HARAN. RETURN 

TO CANAAN. NIGHT AT PENIEL. HIS 

TRIALS. STORY OF JOSEPH. 

CTUSIE. We left Jacob last evening at Bethel, 
X on his way to Haran, alone and on foot, with 
only a staff to help him along. How far, Edward, 
do you think it was from Beersheba to Haran ? 

Edward. It must have been at least five hundred 
miles. 

Mrs. S. You spoke, Jennie, last evening, of 
Jacob's vision of the ladder from earth to heaven, 
with angels ascending and descending. The Lord 
stood above it looking upon his servant as he lay 
sleeping upon his hard pillow, and inspired him 
with this beautiful vision. He also renews the 
covenant which he had made with Abraham and 
Isaac, promising him the same great blessings. The 
ladder was an emblem of Christ, the way to heaven. 
Thus he is assured that angels are his attendants, 
and the blessing of a covenant-keeping God his 
portion. 

Edward. Awakening with the morning's dawn, 
he exclaims : "Surely the Lord is in this place, and 



6& LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

I knew it not." "This is none other but the house 
of God, and this is the gate of heaven." Bethel 
shall be its name. The stone which had been his 
pillow he sets up, and pours oil upon it, a memorial 
of this sacred place ; and with a solemn vow to 
consecrate a tenth of his possessions to God, he 
goes on his way. 

Susie. And how happy he is as he pursues his 
journey. 

Jennie. He has a pleasant meeting with his 
cousins at Haran, especially with Rachel. 

Mrs. S. The deception practised upon him by 
Laban, in giving him Leah for a wife instead of 
Rachel, was a sore trial, and must have brought his 
sin to remembrance. ' He had deceived his father, 
and he is now deceived in a matter upon which his 
future happiness-seems to depend. 

Jennie. It seems strange that he had to labor 
seven years for a wife. 

Mrs. S. He had nothing else to give for the 
dowry always required. 

Susie. Leah was, I presume, ill-lookfng ; and 
Laban thought that by playing this trick on Jacob, 
he would secure his services another seven years, 
and get a good husband for both his daughters/ 

Mrs. S. Jacob had many trials, yet the blessing 
of God rested upon him. After a stay in Haran of 
twenty years, with his wives and children, flocks 
and herds, he starts on his journey to Canaan and 
he contrives to do this without Laban's knowledge. 



CONVERSATION VII. 69 

Susie. Laban finding it out, pursues him, but 
God did not permit him to do any harm to Jacob. 

Edward. But another danger is before him. 

Jennie. What danger was this ? 

Mrs. S. His old enemy, Esau. During Jacob's 
absence, Esau had become a prince in the land of 
Seir or Edom. 

Edward. He had lost none of his spite ; for the 
messengers Jacob sent to solicit his brother's favor, 
brought back word that Esau was coming against 
him with four hundred men. 

Susie. Jacob was greatly terrified. 

Mrs. S. But did you observe how wise were his 
plans ? 

Edward. I did. He sends first a drove of 
cattle as a present to his angry brother : next his 
own flocks and herds, then his wives, children and 
servants ; Joseph and Rachael being last of all. 
He is thus left alone, the brook Jabbok between 
him and this company, and here he spends the 
night. 

Mrs. S. And what man ever spent such a night 
as did Jacob — wrestling with the Angel of the 
Lord ! All night long is the struggle, and still the 
answer is delayed. With the morning's dawn, the 
Divine Being says, " Let me go, for the day break- 
eth ; " but behold the triumph of faith. His reply 
" I will not let thee go, except thou bless me," re- 
ceives the divine assurance ; " Thy name shall be 
called no more Jacob, but Israel, for as a prince hast 



70 LICHT FROM HISTORY. 

thou power with God, and hast prevailed." The 
brothers meet — the blessed assurance is verified ; 
for there is no anger on Esau's brow. God has 
touched his heart, and with kisses and tears he 
embraces that brother, whom with murderous rage 
he had pursued. 

Jennie. But did Jacob really wrestle with the 
Angel of the Lord ? 

Mrs. S. He did. In the struggle the joint of 
his thigh was dislocated ; still he kept a firm hold 
of the Divine Being until the blessing was granted. 
The change of name implied this, for it was from 
Jacob, the supplanter, to Israel, the prince. This 
name the people of God inherit ; a name obtained 
by wrestling with the blessed Mediator the God- 
man, Christ Jesus. 

Susie. Having entered Canaan, wherever this 
man of God pitches his tent, he erects an altar ; 
the first at Shalem he calls El-Elohe — Israel, or to 
the God of Israel. 

Mrs. S. Then God directs him to Bethel, that 
memorable spot, to him the house of God, the gate 
of heaven. Here he cleanses his family from 
every trace of idolatry ; he recounts the mercies 
he had received, and renews his dedication to God. 
But he has trials ; for Rachel, his beloved w r ife, in 
giving birth to her second son, the darling Ben- 
jamin, closes her eyes in death. 

Susie. In Shalem he met with a great affliction, 
his only daughter being carried off by an idolatrous 



CONVERSATION VII. 7 I 

prince. Then the baseness of his sons Simeon and 
Levi, in falling upon these Schechemites when 
unable to defend themselves, was to him a living 
trial ; as it brought dishonor upon God, whose 
people they professed to be. His sons, with the ex- 
ception of Joseph, were as bad as their grandfather 
Laban. 

Edward. Speaking of Joseph brings to mind 
Jacob's greatest affliction ; his anguish when he be- 
lieved this beloved son torn in pieces by wild 
beasts. 

Jennie. His brothers had the spirit of Cain ; 
their father's love for him causing their envy and 
hatred. 

Edzuard. His dreams increased this envious 
spirit ; murder was in their hearts. 

Susie. And when far away from his father, they 
determined upon the bloody deed. 

Edward. But God moved the heart of Reuben 
to preserve the life of Joseph. 

Mrs. S. Yes, Reuben proposed to put him into 
the pit, thinking while the rest were at dinner to 
take him out and send him home. But before he 
could do this, they had sold him to the Ishmaelites. 
This was of God, though they meant no good to 
Joseph, but only to gratify their own vile passions. 

Jennie. They thought they could get a little 
money, and keep his dreams from coming to pass. 

Susie. It was Judah's plan to sell him. The 
Ishmaelites gave twenty pieces of silver for Joseph. 



72 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Christ was sold by Judas for thirty pieces of silver. 
What do you suppose, mother, was the value of one 
of these pieces ? 

Mrs. S. If a shekel, its value was seventy-five cents. 

Edward. Thus Joseph, hated and sold by his 
own brothers, was a type of Christ. 

Mrs. S. The distress of Joseph at this time is 
not mentioned in the narration, but the brothers 
when awakened to their guilt, speak of the anguish 
of his soul when he besought them, and they would 
not hear. 

Edivard. When* he reached Egypt he was again 
sold, and had to work for a master, but he was 
well treated, and after a time, he became the over- 
seer instead of a slave. 

Mrs. S. But then came his great trial — the base 
temptation of that wicked woman, Potiphar's wife, 
and her false accusation. To be thrown into prison 
was terrible, but that was a small calamity, in com- 
parison with being thought guilty of so great a sin. 
Still he had no accusing conscience, and God was 
his support. He was at first severely treated ; for 
in Ps. 105, 18 we read, "whose feet they hurt with 
fetters ; he was laid in iron." But even here, his 
integrity and wisdom gave him favor, so that his 
prison companions were placed under his charge ; 
and his power to interpret dreams, changed him 
from a prisoner to a prince. 

Edward. This power was from God, who also 
caused these men to dream. 



CONVERSATION VII. 73 

Jennie. Now let us look at these brothers with 
Joseph's coat in the hand, and a monstrous lie in 
the mouth. It was all torn and bloody, but men 
worse than wild beasts had done the deed. Now 
for the lie, " This, " holding up the coat, " have we 
found, know now whether it be thy son's coat or 
no." "It is my son's coat," says the father with 
anguish that could not be spoken. 

Susie. Just think, making their father believe 
his darling son was torn in pieces by a wild beast, 
and seeing his grief so great that it seemed as 
though he would die, and not one of these ten 
brothers would tell him the truth. 

Jennie. How long, Edward, did he mourn for 
him as dead ? 

Edward. Count it up ; thirteen years with 
Potiphar and in prison, the seven years of plenty, 
and two of the famine. 

Jennie. Twenty-two years, and in all that time 
not one of them repented. 

Mrs. S. Repentance would have led to con- 
fession. Joseph's rough treatment when he first 
met them, brought their sin to remembrance, and 
their three days in prison led them to realize their 
guilt. 

Edward. Joseph's motive for this treatment was 
to prove them ; the second time by heaping favors 
upon Benjamin, trying them in another way, and 
the affair ot the silver cup showed plainly that he 
w^as loved and not envied. 



74 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. How his dreams were fulfilled. They all 
bow down to him, and offer to be his servants, if 
Benjamin can go to his father ; but it is Benjamin 
that he wants. 

Mrs. S. Now it is that Judah, who had pledged 
that no evil should come to Benjamin, stands forth 
to plead his cause. Love gives power to his words. 
He first testifies the love of the father for this dar- 
ling child, the only one of his beloved wife ; "the 
other having been torn in pieces by wild beasts." 
He closes by this affecting appeal : " Seeing that 
his life is bound up in the lad's life, it shall come to 
pass when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he 
will die ; and thy servant shall bring down the gray 
hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the 
grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad 
unto my father, saying if I bring him not unto thee, 
then I shall bear the blame to my father forever. Now, 
therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead 
of the lad, a bondman to my lord, and let the lad 
go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up 
with my father and the lad be not with me ; lest 
peradventure I see the evil that shall come on 
my father." This is all the brother can bear. No 
longer can he refrain from announcing — "I am 
Joseph ! I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold 
into Egypt." Weeping aloud ; asking for his father ; 
begging them to come near to him, he seeks to 
comfort them, and allay their fears ; but they could 
not speak. 



CONVERSATION VII. 75 

Edward. Joseph then gives them these words of 
encouragement : " Be not angry with yourselves ; 
God sent me before you to save your lives by a great 
deliverance." " Haste ye, and go up to my father, 
and say unto him : Thus saith thy son, Joseph ; 
God hath made me lord of all Egypt ; come down 
unto me, tarry not." 

Jennie. How tenderly he embraces Benjamin, 
weeping upon his neck, and covering him with 
kisses. 

Susie. All his brothers he embraces and kisses. 

Mrs. S. How fully he exhibits the character of 
Him who " sticketh closer than a brother." 

Edward. How gladly they hasten to their father 
to make known the tidings. 

Susie. The dear old father, how happy he is ! 
His beloved Joseph alive ! Can it be true ? Shall 
he again embrace this beloved son ? 

Jennie. It seems at first too good to be true ; 
but the wagons convince him, and he is in haste to 
be on the way. 

Mrs. S. We have overstaid our time, but I 
could see no place to stop. Joseph as a type of 
Christ to-morrow evening, with Israel's blessing of 
his sons. 



CONVERSATION VIII. 



JOSEPH A TYPE OF CHRIST. PROPHECIES OF ISRAEL 

CONCERNING HIS SONS. 

TTRS. SELWYN. In searching the Scripture, I 
" \ trust that my children everywhere seek to 
find Christ. 

Jennie. Yes, mother, and to trace the great 
scheme of redemption. 

Susie. Sometimes we find a promise, then some 
object, as for instance the ark, representing the 
way of salvation ; but characters or events often 
give us an illustration of this glorious work. 
Edward can best explain how Joseph represents 
our Saviour. 

Edward, I have been searching into this great 
subject, and I have found much aid in Edwards' 
History of Redemption. It is well, I think, to 
study this book in connection with the Bible. 

Mrs. S. This is what we did at Mr. Emerson's 
Seminary ; but now you will please go on with the 
explanation. 

Edward. Joseph, hated, sold and in intention 
slain by his brothers, is thus their deliverer from 
death. , So Christ, by his own people " despised and 



CONVERSATION VIII. 77 

rejected, sold by a professed friend, and put to 
death," thus provides a way of salvation for his 
enemies. Joseph is in a state of humiliation,— a 
slave, — a prisoner ; then, in a state of exaltation, 
taken from the dungeon to be ruler of the land, to 
whom every knee must bow. Thus he had power 
to save his fellow men from death ; so Christ, 
having endured a state of humiliation and a shame- 
ful death, rising triumphant from the tomb, com- 
pletes the glorious scheme of redemption, having 
all power in Heaven and on earth to save lost 
sinners from eternal death. 

Mrs. S. I rejoice, my son, in the clearness of 
your views upon this important subject. Let us 
now look at the venerable father and the beloved 
son in their re-union. Seventeen years their happy 
intercourse continued, and they were years of 
blessing. The aged patriarch, keeping firm hold of 
the promise that Canaan should be the inheritance 
of his posterity, desires that his body might there 
be laid. As death draws near, he says to his sons : 
" Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you 
that which shall befall you in the last days." Then, 
by the Holy Ghost, he gives a wonderful view of 
events far into the future. 

Susie. And here is the passage that opened the 
way to these conversations. 

Edward. This prophecy, therefore, you will 
please to explain. 

Susie. Thank you for the privilege. Israel says 



78 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

to Judah : " Thou art he whom thy brethren shall 
praise (or honor). Thy hand shall be in the neck 
of thine enemies ; thy father's children shall bow 
down before thee." This was fulfilled by David — 
of this tribe — in his triumph over his enemies, and 
his reigning over all Israel. Judah he calls a lion ; 
and as the lion is the king of beasts, so the royal 
line is of this tribe. Christ is the lion of the tribe 
of Judah, — in his human nature a descendant of 
David ; and the sceptre shall not depart from 
Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until 
the Messiah — here called Shiloh — shall come. 
This was fulfilled ; for although this tribe had been 
in captivity, yet still as a distinct tribe restored to 
their own land, they were permitted to have rulers 
of their own people until the coming of the Mes- 
siah — Herod being king of Judah when Christ was 
born in Bethlehem. 

Mrs. S. The prediction, " Unto him," — to 
Christ — " shall the gathering of the people be," is 
wonderful in its fulfillment, even to the present 
time ; for multitudes of all nations are being 
gathered into the kingdom of Christ. 

Susie. In the latter part of this prophecy is a 
picture of the rich inheritance of this tribe. Wine 
and milk should be in great abundance ; and this 
we know is a true description of the productions 
of this part of Canaan. 

Jennie. Are the prophecies of the other tribes 
as plainly fulfilled as those of Judah ? 



CONVERSATION VIII. 79 

Afrs. S. As far as we know their history, we can 
trace the fulfillment as plainly. In regard to the 
three elder sons, — their misdeeds are first men- 
tioned ; then the penalty, or what should befall 
their posterity in the latter days ; thus exhibiting 
the consequence of sin. Reuben's offence was 
heinous ; by it he forfeited the right of primogeni- 
ture, and became insignificant as a tribe. " Un- 
stable as water thou shalt not excel." This is 
proved by the little said of this tribe. Simeon and 
Levi were united in their base treatment of the 
Shechemites ; and the penalty 'upon each was the 
same : " I will divide them in Jacob and scatter 
them in Israel." As respects the tribe of Levi, 
many of whom were eminent for piety, there was a 
blessing in the penalty. With no inheritance in the 
land, the Lord was their portion. Scattered 
through the country as ministers of religion ; in 
blessing others, they themselves were blest. 

Edward. The tribe of Simeon was not thus 
distinguished. Their inheritance was within that 
of Judah, and so small that they had to seek 
territory in other places. I find an account of this, 
I Chron. 4 : 39-43. Bishop Newton speaks also of 
a Jewish tradition : that great numbers of Simeon- 
ites were scattered among other tribes as teachers, 
in order to get a living. 

Susie. Of Zebulun, the patriarch says : He 
" shall dwell at the haven of the sea, and his border 
shall be unto Zidon." We have only to look at the 



80 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

map to find the fulfillment of this prophecy. The 
land was divided by lot, but the Lord directed how 
the lines should fall. 

Jennie. Issachar should have a pleasant land, 
but he should be " a strong ass couching down 
between two burdens." I wonder what this means? 

Edward. Little is said of this tribe ; but his 
inheritance was in the valley of Esdraelon, so often 
traversed by contending armies, and thus burdens 
may have been laid upon him. Dan is to be 
distinguished for two things, both fulfilled by one 
man of this tribe : '" Dan shall judge the people." 
" Dan shall be a serpent in the way, an adder in the 
path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider 
shall fall backward." Who was this man, Jennie? 

Jennie. I guess — yes, I know ; it was Samson ; 
he was a Danite, and he surely fulfilled both proph- 
ecies. It is amusing to see how Jacob describes 
his children by animals : Judah a lion, Issachar an 
ass, and Dan an adder. 

Susie. And here is Naphtali a hind or a deer — 
timid and yet swift. Barak, a judge of Israel, was 
of this tribe ; but he would not go against the 
enemy, unless Deborah would go with him. 

Edward. The men of Naphtali were distin- 
guished in this contest with Jabin, king of Canaan, 
thus celebrated in Deborah's song of thanksgiving : 
" Zebulun and Naphtali were people that jeoparded 
their lives, even unto death." 

Mrs. S. The blessing of Joseph is beautiful ; it 



CONVERSATION VIII. 8l 

gives a view of the aged father's heart. It is in a 
great degree historical, a review of what his beloved 
son had suffered, and how "the arms of his hands 
were made strong by the hands of the mighty God 
of Jacob;" and he thus became " the shepherd, 
the stone of Israel," sustaining those who otherwise 
would have perished. Then, in a burst of holy 
faith and love, the patriarch pours forth his pro- 
phetic benediction, predicting for him " blessings of 
heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth 
under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb ; 
the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the 
blessings of my progenitors to the utmost bound of 
the everlasting hills ; they shall rest on the head of 
Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that 
was separate from his brethren." In the benedic- 
tion upon the two sons of Joseph, whom he adopted 
as his own, he puts the younger before the elder, 
declaring that the posterity of Ephraim shall 
far outnumber that of Manasseh. This was notice- 
ably the case ; and in the later periods of the king- 
dom of the ten tribes, Ephraim was so much more 
numerous than any other, that the nation was called 
by his name. 

Edward. The prediction concerning the tribe of 
Gad implies might in war : " Gad, a troop shall 
overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last." 
Turning to I Chron. 12 : 8, I find, in the description 
of those of this tribe in the service of David, a 
fulfillment of this prophecy : " They were men of 



82 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

war, fit for the battle, that could handle shield and 
buckler ; whose faces were faces of lions, and were 
as swift as the roes upon the mountains." 

Jennie. This shows the importance of compar- 
ing scripture with scripture. 

Susie. Of Asher, Jacob says : " His bread shall 
be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties." Dr. Scott 
gives this fulfillment : " His inheritance, bordering 
upon Carmel, was fruitful to a proverb." 

Jennie. Benjamin is represented by another 
animal — a wolf. I do not think the dear little 
Benjamin was very wolfish, but I imagine his 
descendants were. The war described in the last 
three chapters of Judges, between the Benjaminites 
and the other tribes, shows this. 

Susie. Yes, strange to say, this one tribe was 
victorious over all the others for two days ; but on 
the third day all were killed but six hundred men. 

Mrs. S. Each tribe had also taken an oath not 
to give a wife to a Benjaminite ; so the question 
was ; " Shall there be one tribe less in Israel ? " 
They could not have this. 

Edward. Finding the people of Jabesh-gilead 
had not taken the oath, they got four hundred there. 

Jejinie. And I know how they got the other two 
hundred. At a religious festival in Shiloh, when 
the maidens were dancing before the Lord, these 
men were permitted to rush in and each sieze a 
wife for himself. 

Edward. Saul, the first king of Israel, was of 



CONVERSATION VIII. 8$ 

the tribe of Benjamin, and so was Saul of Tarsus 
in gospel times — afterwards called Paul the apostle 
of the Gentiles. 

Mrs. S. We will next make acquaintance with 
Moses. 



CONVERSATION IX. 



MOSES DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT. THE PASSOVER. 

PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA. MANNA GIVEN. 

ISRAEL AT REPHIDIM. 

TjI DWARD. Joseph lived fifty-four years after 
"^^ his father's death, but little is said of him. His 
promise of protection to his brothers, his confidence 
of their return to Canaan, and his requiring them 
to carry his bones with them ; this is all, except his 
age, one hundred and ten. 

Jennie. How long was it from Joseph to Moses? 

Edward. From his death to the birth of Moses 
was sixty-four years. 

Jennie. After the death of Joseph the Israelites 
were badly treated. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Yes ; a new dynasty came into 
power and this foreign people were put to hard labor 
under taskmasters. Their rapid increase caused 
the fear that they might take possession of the 
country, and led to the cruel decree that every male 
child should be killed. 

Susie. This was the law when Moses was born. 

Jennie. And yet he was not slain. 

Mrs. S. By prayer and pains this believing 



CONVERSATION IX. 85 

mother saved her child — a child that in the divine 
counsels was designed for a work greater than that 
performed by any other man. 

Edward. Greater than any other man ? 

Mrs. S. Was not Moses a mediator between 
God and man ? What other being ever performed 
this office but the Lord J esus Christ, " God mani- 
fest in the flesh ? " 

Edward. Yes, mother, I see that this is really 
true. Paul, in the Hebrews, thus compares them : 
" Moses faithful in all his house as a servant ; Christ 
as a son over his own house." 

Susie. The preservation of Moses was wonderful. 

Mrs. S. Yes, but it was all of God. 

Jennie. His mother did all in her power. 

Mrs. S. She did ; while she trusted alone in 
God. It was by divine direction that she placed 
her babe in the basket by the river. 

Edward. And it was God that caused the 
princess to come to the river at just the right time 
and place ; that disposed her to send for the 
basket ; to be moved with pity ; and to adopt him 
as her own son. 

Jennie. And to accept the nurse that his sister 
proposed, even his own mother. 

Susie. There was something remarkable in the 
child. Josephus calls it a " divine beauty;" and 
Stephen says he was " exceeding fair." 

Mrs. S. Moses, forty years in the king's family, 
became " learned in all the wisdom of the Egyp- 



86 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

dans;" and at this period Egypt stood first among 
the nations. He might probably have remained ; 
but Paul says, " he chose rather to suffer affliction 
with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures 
of sin for a season." Here his education was com- 
menced, but forty years was needed to prepare 
him for his great work, and this was in the land of 
Midian, where, by communion with God, he gained 
wisdom from above. He was thus fitted to become 
the shepherd and guide of his people. 

Edward. From the burning bush, burning and yet 
not consumed, because Jehovah was there, he was 
bidden to return to Egypt for the deliverance of 
his people. His commission was thus from God. 

Jennie. But though God promised to be with 
him, he seems to have been unwilling to go. 

Mrs. S. With a sense of his insufficiency, he 
also manifested a want of faith. He looked at the 
difficulties to be overcome, rather than at the all- 
sufficiency of his divine Helper. God graciously 
condescended by miraculous signs to encourage 
him, as well as to reprove his unbelief ; assuring 
him, also, that his brother Aaron should go with 
him to the king and be his spokesman. 

Jennie. His brother met him on his way to 
Egypt. 

Mrs. S. In reading the history of the ungodly 
king, what a view we have of the human heart when 
given up of God, and left to pursue its own way. 
Rather than obey the divine command, he sees his 



CONVERSATION IX. 87 

whole land desolated, and not until there is a death 
in every house will he let the Israelites depart. 

Edward. No death in the house of an Israelite ; 
the blood on the lintel and side posts of each door 
was the means to be used for safety. What a type 
of Christ is the paschal lamb. Let us read the 
account of the passover which commemorates this 
deliverance. (Edward reads Ex. 12.) 

Mrs. S. This feast every Israelite was required 
to observe on the anniversary of this day, in re- 
membrance of this deliverance. And how could 
one neglect it ? But while disposed to condemn 
the Israelite for his heartless indifference, what 
can we say of those who have no heart to comply 
with our Saviour's command, " This do in remem- 
brance of me ; " in remembrance of him who has 
redeemed them from an eternal bondage, an eternity 
of woe ! 

Susie. The change from the one feast to the 
other was made on the evening previous to Christ's 
death upon the cross. "Christ our passover is sac- 
rificed for us." 

Jennie. But let us look at the Egyptians. What 
consternation ! "We all are dead men," they cry. 

Susie. The Israelites can have whatever they 
ask for, if they will only make haste and begone. 
So " they spoiled the Egyptians."* 

Mrs. S. In the dead of night the king calls for 

* Ex. 12 : 36. 



88 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Moses and Aaron, saying : " Rise up and get you 
forth from among my people." 

Edward. And before the morning's dawn the 
men, women and children, with their cattle and 
sheep, and everything they can carry, are all on the 
way ; but what a host, six hundred thousand, beside 
the children. 

Mrs. S. A divine light is their guide, the pillar 
of fire, "the Angel of God."* 

Edward. A pillar of fire by night and a cloud 
by day. 

Jennie. But it does not lead them in the way 
they wish to go. 

Susie. And on the third day the Red Sea is 
before them. 

Edward. And their enemies just behind them. 

Jennie. Now they grumble at Moses ; while it is 
the Lord that has led them. 

Mrs. S. Bat what could they do without Moses? 
He is their mediator. He cries to God, and a way 
is opened for them through the Red Sea, and the 
pillar of fire moves behind them, throwing light on 
their pathway. 

Edward. The king and and his host follow, but 
it is for their destruction. 

Susie. God looks upon them and troubles them ; 
their chariot wheels come off, and the cloud in 
front of them makes the darkness intense. 

Jennie. The Israelites safe on the other side, 

* Ex. 14 : 19. 



CONVERSATION IX. 89 

the waters return to their place, overwhelming the 
proud king and his mighty host. 

Edward. The distance where they crossed is 
about ten miles. A little below Suez, on the 
African side, is Cape Moses, and opposite to it 
Cape Deliverance, and this is probably where they 
crossed. 

Susie. They celebrated their deliverance in a 
song of praise. 

Edward. Moses was their leader. He gives 
glory to the God of Israel, and in this song the 
multitude join ; Miriam, his sister, leading the 
women with timbrels and dances, and swelling the 
chorus : " Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed 
gloriously ; the horse and his rider hath he thrown 
into the sea." 

Jennie. They travel now southeast in the direc- 
tion of Mt. Sinai. 

Mrs. S. God provides food for them, first by 
causing flocks of quails to fly so low that they were 
easily caught, and then by giving them bread from 
heaven ; and with this he fed them forty years. 

Susie. This was a little seed-like substance, 
covering the ground every morning but the Sabbath, 
and melting when the sun shone. Of this they 
made cakes, first grinding the seeds. 

Edward. The people called it manna, or " what 
is it ? " I think it was an emblem of Christ, the 
bread of life. 

Jennie. Its not being found on the seventh day, 



90 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

was to remind them of their obligation to keep the 
Sabbath. I think they had had no Sabbath in 
Egypt, and like some people in our time needed to 
be waked up to the obligation to observe this day 
of rest, instituted at the creation for the benefit of 
all mankind. 

Edward. In some places they found water, but 
at Rephidim there was none, and for this they were 
angry at Moses. In his distress he went to God. 
He was directed to a rock, perhaps by the cloud 
resting upon it. At God's command he struck the 
rock, and the water burst forth, a large stream run- 
ning through the encampment. 

Jennie. And a more joyful people were never 
seen ; men, women and children with the cattle 
and sheep, come skipping along to take their fill of 
the clear cold water. 

Edward. And there is now, just in this place, a 
rock with fissures, through which water seems once 
to have flowed. Paul says this rock was an emblem 
of Christ. I believe this stream followed them in 
their journeyings through the desert. 

Mrs. S. Mt. Sinai was their next encampment. 
About ten miles from Rephidim is an extensive 
plain, from which rise three mountain summits, the 
middle one, Ras Sasefeh, is believed to be the an- 
cient Sinai. 

The giving of the law we must defer till another 
evening. 



CONVERSATION X. 



ISRAEL AT MT. SINAI. THE GIVING OF THE LAW. 

MOSES ON THE MOUNT. THE TABERNACLE. 

1TTRS. SELWYN. The Israelites left Egypt on 
" \ the fifteenth day of the first month, and 
reached Mt. Sinai the third month — forty-five days 
on the way. 

Jennie. Do you think they knew why God had 
brought them to this place ? 

Mrs. S. Probably not. When settled in their 
tents, Moses delivered this message to them from 
God. " Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, 
and how I bear you on eagles' wings, and brought 
you unto myself. Now, therefore, if you will obey 
my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye 
shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all 
people ; for all the earth is mine." To this, the 
people speaking together, gave this answer, " All 
that the Lord hath spoken we will do." This 
answer Moses returned to God. 

Edward. Then Moses was bidden to tell them 
to sanctify themselves, and be ready against the 
third day ; for the Lord would make known to 
them his will, speaking from the thick cloud upon 



92 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

the holy mount ; " that the people may hear when I 
speak with thee and believe thee forever." 

Mrs. S. This preparation was to wash their 
clothes, to put away all uncleanness externally but 
especially to put it away from their hearts, and to 
avoid every sensual indulgence. 

Jennie. Moses was also charged to put bounds 
around the mount, so that no one, not even a beast, 
might come near, or touch the mount. 

Edward. With the dawn of the third day, there 
were thunderings and lightnings, and the voice of 
the trumpet exceeding loud ; the mountain quaking 
and enveloped in smoke ; for the Lord came down 
in fire, and his voice was heard by the trembling 
multitude as he proclaimed his holy law. 

Mrs. S. " I am the Lord thy God which have 
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the 
house of bondage," was the introduction given to 
these divine commands, which were spoken so that 
all Israel could hear ; the moral law which all man- 
kind are bound to obey. The sum of these ten 
commandments our Saviour declares ; is to " love 
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
thy soul, and with all thy mind ;" and "thy neigh- 
bor as thyself." Love is the fulfilling of the law. 

Susie. I think as we repeat these commandments, 
we should seek to realize this scene of awful 
solemnity. 

Mrs. S. The people seem to have been filled 
with terror at the voice of the Almighty ; they en- 



CONVERSATION X. 93 

treat Moses, "Let not God speak with us lest we 
die ; " " speak thou with us, and we will hear." But 
even Moses "did exceedingly fear and quake."* 

Edward. God called Moses to go up into the 
mount ; and forty days and forty nights he was 
there alone with God. There he received the two 
tables of stone with these ten commandments written 
by the finger of God. 

Jennie. But as Moses came down from the 
mount, what a scene came before him, a great con- 
course of people dancing and singing, and bowing 
down to a golden calf ! 

Susie. I do not wonder that he dashed the tables 
of stone to the ground. It was a righteous indig- 
nation. 

Edward. But how he pleads with God for their 
forgiveness — willing to bear the curse himself. 
What a type of Christ ! 

Mrs. S. Justice and mercy were mingled. It 
was on this occasion that the Levites executed the 
penalty of divine justice upon the guilty idolators ; 
but the intercession of Moses brought mercy to the 
penitent. 

Jennie. Moses on the mount received other laws 
from God ; and now, mother, please tell us about 
these ceremonial laws. 

Mrs. S. These laws were directions in regard 
to the manner of worship ; Leviticus which contains 
them, is the " Book of Worship." But before des- 

* Heb. 12: 21. 



94 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

cribing these ceremonies we must look at the des- 
cription of the house to be prepared for these 
services. The directions for its construction are in 
the latter part of Exodus. 

Edward. We must remember that Moses was a 
second time alone with God upon the mount forty 
days and forty nights ; and that he received two 
other tables of stone, upon which the ten com- 
mandments were again inscribed. 

Mrs. S. This is true, and at this time the Lord 
graciously passed by before him, and proclaimed 
" The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, 
long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and 
truth." You will read carefully this solemn des- 
cription ; but we will now speak of the tabernacle. 
The Israelites in their journeyings could only 
occupy tents, and they must erect a tent for God. 
It must be a palace for their king, as well as a house 
for his worship. His greatness and his glory, as 
well as his purity and his holiness, were to be kept 
in mind, and to be exhibited by the construction of 
this house ; hence particular directions were given 
to Moses, and he was charged to make all things ac- 
cording to the pattern shown him in the mount. 

Edward. It must be made of the very best 
materials, not after man's fashion, but according to 
the divine pattern. 

Mrs. S. Did you notice that two men, Bezaleel 
and Aholiab, were indued with wisdom and skill 
for the construction of this building ? 



CONVERSATION X. 95 

Jennie. Yes, mother ; and that many others 
were wise hearted to perform cunning work. I 
suppose Bezaleel and Aholiab were the master work- 
men. 

Susie. The women were ready to help ; they 
did what women ought now to do ; put their orna- 
ments into the Lord's treasury. 

Jennie. They spun goat's hair, and I dare say 
made the fine linen, and embroidered the curtains. 

Edward. They gave what women now would 
think they could not spare, their looking-glasses. 
They were of polished brass. 

Mrs. S. The people gave so liberally that they 
were told to stop giving. The tabernacle was very 
beautiful. Can either of you describe it ? 

Edward. I think I can, mother. It was thirty 
cubits long and ten broad. It had two apartments ; 
the holy place, occupying two-thirds of the length, 
and the holy of holies. Between these apartments 
was a richly embroidered curtain. The two sides 
and the west end were covered with boards of shittim 
wood overlaid with gold. At the entrance on 
the east were five golden pillars, from which were 
suspended embroidered curtains. There were four 
coverings — the inner one of fine linen emboidered 
with figures of cherubim, in blue, purple and scar- 
let ; the next of goats' hair, the third of rams' skins 
dyed red, and the fourth of badgers' skins — a heavy 
kind of leather. It stood in an open court, one 
hundred cubits long and fifty broad. This court 






96 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

was enclosed by pillars of brass, twenty on each 
side, and ten at each end ; on which were curtains 
of fine twined linen, with cords to draw them up, 
or to each side. Its appearance was magnificent. 
The value of gold alone, it is thought, would 
amount to $800,000. 

Jennie. These apartments must have been dark, 
for there were no windows. 

Edward. They were dark, but the lamps in the 
golden candlestick were kept burning. There were 
seven branches to the candlestick. This stood in 
the holy place, in the centre of the south side, the 
table of shew bread, of shittim wood, overlaid with 
gold opposite, and the golden altar for burning in- 
cense in the centre of the west end. The holy of 
holies was always dark — except when illumined by 
the divine glory. Here was the ark of the cove- 
nant, containing the two tables of stone. The ark 
was of shittim wood, overlaid with gold. The mercy- 
seat, or covering of the ark, was of solid gold. On 
this were two cherubim facing each other, their 
wings spread out over the mercy seat. 

Mrs. S. You have given a complete description, 
except that you omitted the brazen altar in the 
centre of the court, and the laver of brass containing 
water for purification. The tabernacle could be 
taken down, and carried from place to place. This 
was the business of the Levites. The tribe of Levi 
was consecrated to the tabernacle service. Aaron 
was constituted high priest, and no one could be a 



CONVERSATION X. 97 

priest except descended from him ; and no one but 
a priest could offer sacrifice ; but the manual labor 
in the holy place was performed by Levites. 

To-morrow evening we will attend to Jennie's 
request respecting the ceremonial laws. 



CONVERSATION XI. 



THE CEREMONIAL LAW. THE BURNT OFFERING. 

THE MEAT OFFERING. USE OF WINE. PEACE 

OFFERING. SIN OFFERING. TRESPASS 

OFFERING. 

MRS. SELWYN. Certain animals, as bullocks, 
goats and lambs, had from the beginning been 
required for sacrifice ; and these offerings made with 
repentance for sin, and faith in the promised Mes- 
siah, were acceptable to God by whomsoever offered. 
But for his chosen people, God was pleased to 
institute a particular form of worship ; which was 
made known to Moses while on the mount. Special 
persons were appointed for the service, and five 
kinds of offerings commanded ; the burnt offering, 
the meat offering, the peace offering, the sin offer- 
ing, and the trespass offering. Special directions 
were also given for presenting them to God. Each 
of them was a type of Christ ; Christ is therefore 
the key to them all. We need then to look at them 
in connection with the history of redemption, as 
made known in the New Testament. There are 
many valuable expositions of this part of Scripture, 
but that work which I gave you to consult some 



CONVERSATION XI. 99 

days since, by Rev. Andrew Jukes, has been of 
special advantage to me. You have been interested 
in it, have you not ? 

Edward. Yes, we have. I read it to Susie and 
Jennie while they were sewing. 

Mrs. S. That was a wise course, as you all re- 
ceived the benefit of one reading. 

Edward. You have given us a real privilege in 
putting this book into our hands ; it throws so 
much light on this part of Scripture. 

Susie. I did not see the importance of studying 
the Mosaic law. I thought it only designed for the 
Israelites, and that we had better search into the 
other parts of Scripture, than into this. 

Mrs. S. You must have forgotten our Saviour's 
injunction : " Search the Scriptures," not specifying 
one part, but the whole ; and that Paul declares 
" all Scripture profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 
for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 
We will now consider the different offerings. What 
does Mr. Jukes say of the burnt offering ? 

Susie. He says it was the sacrifice of a life, that 
the animal must be wholly consumed upon the 
altar ; and that from this we learn, that we must 
make an entire dedication of ourselves to God — a 
complete offering. 

Edward. This idea w T as quite new to me, that it 
was not a special offering for sin, but of dedication 
to God ; a type of Christ in giving himself for us 
as a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savor. I never 



IOO LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

noticed that some sacrifices were of a sweet-smelling 
savor, and others were not. 

Jennie. An offering of flour is called a meat 
offering ; but I did not know that this was required 
with the burnt offering ; that every morning and 
every evening, they must both be presented to 
God. 

Mrs. S. Yes, at nine o'clock every morning, and 
at three in the evening, these offerings were requir- 
ed. The lamb cut in pieces was burned upon the 
brazen altar ; with the meat offering of fine flour, 
frankincense, oil and salt, and a drink offering of 
wine. A part of the meat offering was to be burn- 
ed, the remainder to be eaten by the priests. The 
burnt offering implied the fulfillment of duties to 
God, the meat offering of duties to man ; the hand- 
ful of this being burned, showed that whatever is 
done, must be done for the Lord. 

Jennie. But the first duty of the priest in the 
early morning, was the burning of incense on the 
golden altar in the holy place. 

Mrs. S. This showed that with the early dawn, 
the heart should be lifted up to God in prayer. 

Edward. What Mr. Jukes says of the materials 
of the meat offering is striking. The fine flour 
bruised and crushed, may remind us of the suffer- 
ings of the Saviour ; the divine graces, like frank- 
incense exposed to the fire, in the hour of anguish 
become most apparent ; the oil an emblem of the 
Holy Spirit's influence ; the salt of purity. Heat 



CONVERSATION XI. IOI 

increases the perfume of frankincense, but honey is 
thus fermented, and becomes corrupt ; honey 
therefore was never to be used. "Too often," says 
Mr. Jukes, " what is thought in Christians to be 
frankincense, is proved by affliction to be nothing 
but fermenting honey." Salt, the preservative 
from corruption, was always to be used, while 
leaven, the emblem of corruption, was forbidden. 
A drink offering of wine always accompanied these 
sacrifices ; hence it is said : " Wine cheereth the 
heart of God."* 

Jennie. It says also that wine cheereth the heart 
of man ; and this drinking of wine is not spoken of 
as being wrong. 

Mrs. S. Such wine as then drank — the pure 
juice of the grape — was not wrong. Wine was 
used at the feast of the passover, as well as in offer- 
ing sacrifices, while leaven, or anything fermented, 
was especially forbidden. 

Edward. During the passover week, no leaven 
was to be seen in their houses. This we learn by 
reading Ex. 12 : 19, 20, and I cannot see the pro- 
priety of fermented wine in the feast that takes the 
place of the passover. 

Jennie. The dream of the butler, that Joseph 
interpreted, shows the kind of wine that was then 
used. " Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took 
the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, 
and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand." 

* Judg. 9 : 3. 



102 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. Two kinds of wine are spoken of in 
the Bible, as every reader can see ; the one the new 
wine, and the other mixed or fermented. Our Sa- 
viour probably pressed the grapes, and the juice 
gushed out as he said : " This is my blood of the 
New Testament which is shed for many ; " thus 
representing the blood that should flow from his 
body, the seal of the new covenant for the salvation 
of guilty men. 

Edward. Jesus turned water into wine, but it 
surely was not that sort of wine that we have, a 
curse to both body and soul ; for as one hath said: 
" Christ could no more have concord with Bacchus, 
than with Belial." 

Jennie. New wine could be kept sweet by boil- 
ing it, I suppose. 

Mrs. S. Where there is a will, I think a way 
might be found to do it. 

Susie. We have got quite away from the cere- 
monial law. Now let us consider the peace offering. 

Jennie. I know one thing about it. It was an 
offering of a sweet savor. 

Susie. And it was offered in thanksgiving, or in 
fulfillment of a vow. 

Edward. Peace offerings were made according 
to one's free will, and thus showed the feelings of 
the heart. The person who made the offering, if 
free from uncleanness might partake of it. 

Mrs. S. In these offerings, Christ is represented 
to us in three relations. As the Mediator or the 



CONVERSATION XI. 103 

priest — he makes intercession for the guilty ; he 
took the place of the condemned sinner, or of the 
one offering the sacrifice ; He bore the curse for 
us, and thus is the lamb slain, the offering made for 
sin. It is the privilege of the sinner who is cleans- 
ed by the blood of Jesus, and thus freed from his 
uncleanness, to feast with him, not upon any good 
in himself, nor upon the husks of earthly pleasure, 
but upon heavenly food. To relish this, he must 
be one with Christ ; for thus alone can there be 
that communion which is an antepast of heaven. 
Now we will consider the sin offering and the tres- 
pass offering. 

Jennie. I should think sin and trespass meant 
the same thing. 

Susie. Why, really, Jennie — did you not see this 
explanation by Mr. Jukes ? He says : " The sin 
offering is for what man is, the trespass offering for 
what man does ; the one for sin in our nature, the 
other for the fruits of it ; " showing that God looks 
on the heart, as well as on the actions. 

Mrs. S. I am glad Susie, you have received 
such clear ideas on this important subject. Before 
the law was given, there was no sin offering. But 
how little sense of sin is felt, except as an external 
violation of the law. It is the Holy Spirit that 
convinces of sin, and the need of a Saviour. 

Sicsie. And we know that no one will ask for 
pardon, or be willing to accept of it, unless he feels 
himself guilty. 



104 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. And feeling no need of a Saviour, will 
not come to him. But we have something more to 
say of these offerings. They were not of a sweet 
savor. Will you, Edward, describe the difference 
between these offerings and those of a sweet savor ? 

Edward. The great difference was ; that only 
the fat of the sin offering was burned upon the 
brazen altar ; the body was burned without the 
camp. 

Mrs. S. Christ was a sin offering, suffering 
without the gate. 

Edward. The offerings for sin and trespass were 
similar; but for trespass, or an injury to another, 
the injury must be valued, and this valuation paid 
to the injured person ; a fifth part being added to it. 

Jennie. The goat was the animal used for the 
sin offering. 

Mrs. S. Not always, but generally. 

Jennie. Will you please explain about the scape- 
goat ? 

Mrs. S. I will, but not till to-morrow evening, 
when we describe the three great feasts. I would 
like now, before we close, to give you some thoughts 
on the tabernacle and its furniture, as emblematic 
of Christ, and of the believer's life in Christ. Christ 
is prefigured by all the Mosaic ritual, as you will 
see by reading Hebrews — chapters eighth, ninth 
and tenth. 

Edward. Yes, Paul speaks of the law as the 
"shadow of good things to come." 



CONVERSATION XI. 105 

Mrs. S. We may consider the tabernacle as an 
emblem of a Christian life ; every piece and hang- 
ing of a divine pattern ; " a building fitly framed," 
that with Christ the corner stone, " groweth unto 
a holy temple," " the habitation of God through 
the spirit."* Entering the court, Christ is every- 
where seen. First we come to the brazen altar, an 
emblem of the cross — of the blood shed " which 
cleanseth from all sin." Next is the laver — Christ 
our sanctification. Christ having loved the church, 
gave himself for it : " that he might sanctify and 
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. "I 
Christ having been accepted, the redemption of the 
poor sinner is complete ; the Spirit by his regener- 
ating influence renews his heart, and he is a new 
creature in Christ Jesus. Then the new-born soul 
enters the hidden life in the holy place. Christ is 
this entrance ; Christ is everywhere in all his beauty. 
The incense of praise ascends from the golden 
altar ; he is nourished by the bread of life from the 
golden table ; Christ is his light from the golden 
candlestick ; the olive oil in the lamps denoting 
the promised influence of the Holy Spirit ; and 
through the veil rent from top to bottom when 
Christ gave up his life for man, heaven is open to 
the believer — no veil between him and Christ. 

Edward. With all the heart, dear mother, we thank 
you for teaching how to find Christ in the Mosaic 
ritual. It throws new light upon the sacred volume. 

* Eph. 2 : 20. 
f Eph. 5 : 25, 26. 



CONVERSATION XII. 



THE FEASTS. THE MOSAIC LAWS. DEPARTURE 

FROM SINAI. REPORT OF THE TWELVE SPIES. 

REBELLION OF KORAH. SIN OF MOSES AND 

AARON. BRAZEN SERPENT. 

"T7TRS. SELWYN. We will look to you, Edward, 
* I for a description of the Passover. 

Edward. This feast we know commemorated 
the deliverance of Israel from the death of the 
first-born, and from their bondage in Egypt. On 
the anniversary of this day, their food was the 
paschal lamb, with unleavened bread and bitter 
herbs ; but the feast continued seven days, in 
which no leaven was to be seen in their houses. 
Hence it is sometimes called the feast of unleavened 
bread. 

Mrs. S. On the morrow after the Passover 
Sabbath, a sheaf of the first fruits must be waved 
before the Lord. The death of our Saviour was 
on the evening before this Sabbath ; hence, his 
resurrection on the third day, was the morning 
after this Sabbath. This sheaf of the first fruits 
waved before the Lord, may thus be considered an 
emblem of the resurrection of Christ, — the first 



CONVERSATION XII. 107 

fruits from the dead. As a bone of the paschal 
lamb should not be broken, so a bone of Jesus not 
being broken, is said to be the fulfillment of 
prophecy, or of the type. 

Susie. Seven weeks from the day after the 
Passover Sabbath, — the fiftieth day after leaving 
Egypt, — was the feast of Pentecost. This com- 
memorated the giving of the law ; it was also a 
feast of thanksgiving for the ingathering of the 
harvest. On this day, from each habitation, the 
first fruits — two loaves of fine flour with leaven — 
were to be offered, and waved before God ; and 
with the loaves, seven lambs, a bullock and two 
rams for a burnt offering. It was at this feast, — 
fifty days after the resurrection of Christ, — that 
the influences of the Holy Spirit accompanied the 
preaching of Peter, and three thousand souls were 
converted, — the first fruits added to the church of 
Christ. The feast of Pentecost lasted but one day. 

Mrs. S. The two loaves offered to God on the 
day of Pentecost, may be considered an emblem of 
the first ingathering of persons into the kingdom of 
Christ. Christ was the first born from the dead, 
but the thousands converted on that day were the 
first fruits from death in sin into life in Christ. 

Jennie. The feast of Tabernacles was in the 
seventh month. 

Edward. It commenced on the fifteenth, and 
lasted eight days. It was in commemoration of 
their life in the wilderness, or in a land that was not 



108 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

theirs, to remind them of what they had received 
from God. Daring the feast they were to dwell in 
booths. The eighth day was a day of thanksgiving 
for the completion of the harvest. 

Mrs. S. The Passover was a type of Christ's 
atonement for the sins of the world ; the Pentecost, 
of the Holy Spirit's influence in renewing the heart ; 
while the feast of Tabernacles was an emblem of the 
believer's life of thanksgiving to God. The seventh 
month seemed a Sabbatical month, as there were 
more religious observances than in any other. On 
the first day was a holy convocation, — a blowing of 
trumpets. Dr. Scott thinks this an emblem of the 
preaching of the gospel. On the tenth was the 
day of atonement, — the day on which the high 
priest went into the holy of holies, to make an 
atonement for himself and the people. On this 
day, he was to take two goats : the one to be 
offered as a sin offering for the people ; the other, 
the scape goat. Arrayed in linen clothes, — not his 
priestly garments, with the blood of a bullock, — a 
sin-offering for himself, and of the goat for the 
people, bearing a censor of burning coals, he 
entered the holy of holies. The smoke of the 
burning incense enveloping the mercy seat, while 
confessing his sins and the sins of the people, he 
sprinkled the blood. Thus, alone with God, he 
once a year made an atonement for himself and for 
all Israel : a type of Jesus, our High Priest and 
Advocate with God. Leaving this sacred place, he 



CONVERSATION XII. 109 

put the blood of the bullock and of the goat on the 
horns of the altar, sprinkling it seven times ; then 
laying both of his hands upon the head of the liv- 
ing goat, he confessed over him the sins of the 
congregation, as it were putting them on him, and, 
by a suitable person, sent him away into the wilder- 
ness. This was the scape-goat, prefiguring him, 
upon w r hom the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all. 

Susie. Truly we do, in these ceremonies, every- 
where find Christ. 

Jennie. Three times a year only, the Israelites 
were required to go up to God's house ; and it was 
only the men, though the women could have the 
privilege if they desired it, and could go. 

Mrs. S. The law^s given to Israel by Moses, 
were of three classes : moral, ceremonial and civil. 
The moral law, inscribed by God upon the tables 
of stone, was for all mankind ; the ceremonial laws 
were ordinances for divine worship, types of Christ, 
and fulfilled in him ; the civil laws were regulations 
for the government of the state ; some of them 
only for the Israelites, as for instance : " The land 
shall not be sold forever." 

Susie. " Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your 
habitations upon the Sabbath day," another. 

Jennie. And the punishment of the man for 
gathering sticks on that day. 

Mrs. S. The command to keep holy the Sab- 
bath, is found in each division of these laws ; but 
as it is in the moral law, it is of the same obligation 



IIO LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

as the command "Thou shalt not kill." Our 
Saviour's testimony is : " The Sabbath was made 
for man ; " for all mankind. 

Edward. Death was the penalty for violations 
of the first table of the law, as well as for others. 

Mrs. S. This was to impress the guilt of dis- 
regarding the divine Lawgiver. The government of 
Israel was a Theocracy, — God their lawgiver and 
judge. He had made a covenant with them, and 
they had declared, " All that the Lord hath spoken 
we will do." 

Jennie. How long were the Israelites at Mt. 
Sinai ? 

Mrs. S. They reached Mt. Sinai the third 
month, and left the twentieth of the second. 

Jennie. I wonder if they kept the Passover 
before they left ? 

Edward. You will find the account of their 
keeping it — Numbers, 9th — and also that when the 
tabernacle was set up, the cloud rested upon it by 
day, and the pillar of fire by night. 

Mrs. S. In the tenth chapter is the account of 
their leaving Mt. Sinai. The cloud rose and 
moved, and this was the sign for them to follow. 

Jennie. We are also told how the tribes were 
arranged for traveling : the tabernacle in the centre, 
Moses and Aaron in front of it, and the families of 
the Levites on either side, to carry the tabernacle 
and its furniture. Judah, Issachar and Zebulun 
took the lead ; Reuben, Simeon and Gad on the 



CONVERSATION XII. Ill 

right side ; Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin on 
the left ; Dan, Naphtali and Asher in the rear. 
When the ark set forward, Moses was to proclaim: 
" Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered ; 
and let them that hate thee flee before thee." And 
when it rested : " Return, O Lord, unto the many 
thousands of Israel." 

Edward. The deliverance from Egypt w r as 149 1, 
B. C. One year they were at Mt. Sinai, and in one 
year more at Kadesh-barnea, on the borders of 
Canaan ; and here was the sin committed, for 
which they were condemned to wander thirty-eight 
years longer in the wilderness. 

Mrs. S. Yes, the report of ten of the twelve 
spies sent to search the land of Canaan, and the 
rebellion of the people which followed. 

Susie. Of all that were over twenty when they 
left Egypt, God declared that only Caleb and 
Joshua should enter the good land. 

Mrs. S. And the sin for which they were con- 
demned, was unbelief — doubting the promises of 
God. 

Jennie. Then there is no history of them for 
thirty-seven years. 

Mrs. S. Yes, there is the account of one rebel- 
lion against Moses as the ruler, and Aaron as high 
priest. 

Edward. Korah, a near relative of Moses and 
Aaron, was the leader ; but Dathan and Abiram, 
Reubenites, with two hundred and fifty men of 
different tribes, were in this rebellion. 



112 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. Korah, as chief speaker, brings this 
charge against Moses and Aaron : " Ye take too 
much upon you, seeing all the congregation are 
holy." Moses speaks not, until he bows on his 
face before God. He then replies : " Even to- 
morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is 
holy ; " and bids him come to him the next day. 
At the hour for the meeting, the two hundred and 
fifty men stand with Aaron at the door of the 
tabernacle, each kindling the incense in his censor. 
The glory of the Lord appears ; the voice of 
Moses is heard : " Depart, I pray you, from the 
tents of these wicked men." Suddenly the earth 
opens ; Korah and his company are swallowed up ; 
and at the same moment, flames flash from every 
censor, and Aaron stands alone. 

Edward. After this, God makes known, by a 
very significant sign, in whose family should be the 
priesthood. 

Jennie. Yes, the rods of all the princes of the 
tribes must be laid up in the tabernacle for one 
night, and the man whose rod blossomed, was to 
have the priesthood. In the morning the rods were 
brought out, and behold — Aaron's rod had buds, 
blossoms and almonds ; so that matter was settled. 
This rod was always to be kept in the holy of 
holies, as a witness. 

Edward. In the fortieth year after leaving 
Egypt, the Israelites are in Kadesh. Here there is 
no water, and the blame for all their sufferings is 






CONVERSATION XII. 113 

laid upon Moses and Aaron. They cry unto God, 
and Moses is bidden to gather the assembly 
together ; then to " speak unto the rock before 
their eyes ; and it shall give forth his water." 
Moses goes to the rock, but instead of obeying 
God, he exclaims : u Hear now, ye rebels ; must we 
fetch you water out of this rock ? " Then, lifting 
up his rod, twice he smites the rock. The water 
flows, and the people are refreshed. 

Mrs. S. But these servants of God — how great 
their sin ! The penalty — that for this they must 
not enter the good land — is hard to bear ; but 
most do they grieve that they have dishonored 
God : have neglected to honor him in the presence 
of his people. 

Jennie. At the very next encampment, Aaron 
dies, and Eleazar, his son, takes his office. 

Susie. They are now on the borders of Edom, 
but the king forbids them a passage through his 
country. 

Edwar'd. He has the very spirit of Esau — the 
old spite. 

Jennie. It is a great trial to them to go round 
this land. 

Mrs. S. But it was no excuse for their murmur- 
ing against Moses and against God ; therefore, a 
fearful judgment falls upon them. 

Jennie. Yes, the fiery serpents — every bite 
causing death. 

Edward. But God, in answer to Moses' prayer, 

8 



114 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

directs him to a wonderful remedy : a brazen ser- 
pent, raised so high that every one could see it. 

Susie. And every one who looked was cured. 
This brazen serpent represented Christ lifted up 
upon the cross ; as he himself declares to Nico- 
demus. 

Edward. A single look was a sure remedy ; and 
it is just as sure that whosoever looks to Christ, 
shall receive eternal life. 

Jennie. No excuse for not doing this ; therefore 
no excuse for perishing. 

Mrs. S. We should have thought it very strange 
if any Israelite had refused to look at an object so 
plain to be seen, thinking he could cure himself in 
some other way. Pride might have prevented ; the 
remedy was so simple. So pride, it is to be feared, 
shuts many out of Heaven. To-morrow evening 
we will look at Israel on the plains of Moab. 



CONVERSATION XIII. 



CONQUEST OF SIHON AND OG. PROPHECIES FUL- 
FILLED. GIANT CITIES. KING OF MOAB. 

BALAAM. SPIRITUALISM. 

1TTRS. SELWYN. Neither Eciom, Moab, nor 
* I Ammon, was given to Israel, but the Amorites 
were of the nations of Canaan. Sihon, who reigned 
at Heshbon, came out against them, and his beautiful 
country, most of which he had taken from Moab, 
came into their possession. 

Edward. This alarmed Og, king of Bashan ; and 
he came against Israel to his own destruction, for 
his territory all fell into their hands. 

Susie. Og was a giant king, and in his domin- 
ions were many strong cities. Jair the son of Man- 
asseh is said to have taken " threescore great cities 
with walls and brazen gates." This mighty king 
with his mighty hosts could not prevail against 
the God of Israel. 

Jennie. And this part of the country was given 
o the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe 
of Manasseh. They had also the cattle and the 
flocks. But this was on the condition, that the 
men should go over the Jordan and fight, until the 
other tribes got possession of the land. 



Il6 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. I have here a book which will be of 
interest to you. Its title is : " Giant Cities of Ba- 
shan," by Dr. Porter, a recent English traveler in 
the Holy Land. He says, " The cities are there to 
this day ; " and also that he himself from the battle- 
ments of Salcah in Argob, had counted thirty. But 
Bashan, though crowded with cities and villages, is 
deserted — the houses many of them in a perfect 
condition, but without inhabitants. The buildings 
being thus preserved, is owing to their massive 
strength, walls four or five feet thick, and roofs of 
rock. He says that more than once, in a desolate 
city, he had passed a night in one of these deserted 
habitations. Many of the houses are perfect, while 
others are in ruins. On the ancient Roman road 
are everywhere scenes of desolation ; tombs, tem- 
ples, heaps of stone, fallen columns, shattered walls 
and towers. This traveller says, that every view in 
Bashan shows the fulfillment of prophecy ; of the 
curse of God, declared by Moses more than three 
thousand years ago, if they would not hearken unto 
him and do all these commandments. Edward 
you may read Lev. 26 : 31, 32. Edward reads — 
" And I will make your cities waste, and bring your 
sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the 
savor of your sweet odors. And I will bring the 
land into desolation, and your enemies which dwell 
therein shall be astonished at it." 

Jennie. I have found a prophecy in Jeremiah, 
4 . 7, as a reference : " The lion is come up from 



CONVERSATION XIII. 117 

his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on 
his way ; he is gone forth from his place to make thy 
land desolate ; and thy cities shall be laid waste 
without an inhabitant." 

Susie. And here is another: Isa. 32 : 14, " Be- 
cause the palaces shall be forsaken ; the multitude 
of the city shall be left ; the forts and towers shall 
be for dens forever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of 
flocks." 

Mrs. S. Dr. Porter remarks in reference to this 
desolated country : " I could not in my description, 
use language more accurate or more graphic, than 
the language of these prophecies." Bashan once 
renowned for the beauty of its scenery, the luxuri- 
ance of its pastures, the fertility of its plains, the 
excellence of its cattle ; noted even for its oaks ; 
with a busy, bustling, industrious people, is now a 
desolation. " The fields are waste, roads deserted, 
cities abandoned, houses without inhabitants, sanc- 
tuaries desecrated, vineyards, orchards and groves 
destroyed." The whole land is utterly desolate. 
" It is not sown, nor beareth, nor grass groweth 
therein," as Moses declared, " because they have 
forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their 
fathers, which he made with them when he brought 
them forth out of the land of Egypt." * In a word 
says Dr. Porter, the whole land of Bashan and 
Moab is one fulfilled prophecy." 

Edward. How fully this evidence of the fulfill- 

*Deut. 29 : 23, 25, 



Il8 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ment of prophecy, proves the divine inspiration of 
the Bible. 

Jennie. Og, I think, was a real giant from the 
account Moses gives of his bedstead, Deut. 3:11, 
four yards and a half in length, and two yards in 
width. I think the houses for such men to live in 
must have been larger than we have. 

Mrs. S. This reminds me of the description of 
the dwellings in Kerioth. "In Kerioth the dwell- 
ings are such as giants would build ; a door for 
instance nine feet high, four feet and a half wide, 
and ten inches thick." Some places have the 
names they had before the Israelites came from 
Egypt. Salcah, the eastern city of Bashan, spoken 
of in Joshua, 13 : 11, has five hundred houses 
standing, and a strong castle on a hill three hundred 
feet high. Bozrah, a fortress, was the strongest 
city east of Jordan in the time of the Romans ; and 
here the Roman palace, the Greek temple, and the 
Arab hut, side by side are all in ruins. 

Edward. I see from the map, that the country 
on the east side of the sea of Galilee was in Ba- 
shan. 

Mrs. S. There were four provinces in Bashan, 
and one of them lay on this sea. Here the herd of 
swine ran down into the sea to get rid of the devils 
that came out of the man that had been possessed 
with them ; and it was on Bashan's hills that our 
Saviour twice fed the multitude. 

Edward. The whole territory east of Jordan, of 



CONVERSATION XIII. II9 

which the Israelites obtained possession, extended 
from the river Arnon to Mt. Hermon, about one 
hundred and thirty miles, I think, and the breadth 
was hardly fifty ; a great part, not half of this. 
Reuben had the country of Sihon in the south ; 
and Bashan was divided between Gad and Man- 
asseh. These tribes very soon gave themselves up 
to idolatry, and were the first to be carried captives. 

Susie. After the overthrow of Sihon and Og, 
the Israelites encamped at Shittim, not far from the 
Jordan. 

Edward. Balak, king of Moab, was now greatly 
terrified. 

Jennie. But he does not go against the Israelites. 

Susie. I think he was afraid of provoking them. 

Edward. He thought he knew of a better way 
to get rid of them. 

Jennie. Oh, yes ; he would get the spirits to put 
an end to their power. 

Susie. And so there were then spiritualists as 
there are now. 

Mrs. S. And some persons were thought to have 
great power over them, magicians and sooth-sayers. 

Edward. Balaam was one of these, and very 
famous. His curse was thought to bring certain 
destruction. 

Jennie. And so Balak sent for him, offering him 
a large reward. I wonder where he lived. 

Edward. He was a Midianite, but he lived at 
Pethor. I heard a minister say the other day, that 



120 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

this place was in Mesopotamia, twenty days' journey 
from the land of Moab. 

Susie. Do you think he really believed that 
Balaam's curse would do evil to the Israelites ? 

Edward. Why, yes ; for he says : " Whom thou 
blessest, is blessed,, and whom thou cursest, is 
cursed ; " and he surely would not have gone to so 
much expense and trouble, if he had not believed 
it. But, mother, some people think Balaam was a 
good man. He is called a prophet ; he seems to 
have believed in the true God ; and he uttered some 
remarkable prophecies. 

Mrs. S. This is true ; he does foretell the power 
and glory of the kingdom of Christ. " There shall 
come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise 
out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, 
and destroy all the children of Sheth." This refers 
first to David, but to David as the type of Christ. 
All, however, that you have mentioned, does not 
prove Balaam a good man. God permits wicked 
men to be instruments in accomplishing his pur- 
poses. Balaam knew there was one supreme God, 
yet he preferred to obey the devil, when he could 
get money for it ; for " he loved the wages of un- 
righteousness."* Though he was permitted to see 
the future glory of Israel, and the Star that should 
rise out of Jacob, yet this gave him no joy. 

Edward. No ; none at all. He would much 
rather have beheld the glory of Moab, so as to 

* 2 Peter 2: 15. 



CONVERSATION XIII. 121 

make sure the reward. I see it now, mother. He 
also desired to die the death of the righteous ; but 
he had no wish to live the life of the righteous, 
unless it would help him to make money. It is 
plain that his preference was to do evil rather than 
good. 

Mi's. S. Yes, I think this is plain ; for when he 
failed in his spiritualistic jugglery, he stirred up the 
Moabitish women to do the work of the evil one, 
enticing the men of Israel to the worship of Baal- 
peor ; thus proving himself to be a vile idolator. 

Jennie. And for this sin twenty-four thousand 
were swept away by the plague. But, mother, there 
is something in this account of Balaam, that I can- 
not understand. When he first asked permission 
to go to Moab, God forbade him to go ; then he 
asked again, and God said — go ; but he was dis- 
pleased with him for going. 

Mrs. S. But you left out one part of God's 
message to him. When he first asked permission ; 
God told him " Thou shalt not curse this people." 
At the second time when he was told he might go, 
t was with this condition : " Yet the word which I 
shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." Now, as 
he knew that Balak only wished him to pronounce 
the curse upon Israel, and this God forbade him to 
do, and that he must only speak the word he would 
say to him ; of what avail was this permission ? 

Jennie. I see it now, mother. The permission 
to go, without the permission to do what he wished, 
was no permission at all. 



122 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. Balaam is an instance of seeking to 
serve God and mammon, and many follow his 
example. 

Mrs. S. This story shows how vain are the devices 
of wicked men and evil spirits. The devil and his 
emissaries are under the Divine power. They are 
permitted to worry the people of God, but it is to 
prove them. In vain did Satan use efforts to tempt 
our Saviour to a compliance with his designs. That 
Christ is divine, was proved by his power over evil 
spirits. Their superior knowledge is seen, that 
when cast out, they declared Him to be the Messiah. 
Jude says they are " angels which kept not their 
first estate." Paul calls the devil : "the prince of 
the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in 
the children of disobedience ; " and Peter says : 
" Your adversary the devil walketh about as a roar- 
ing lion, seeking whom he may devour." God's 
people are commanded to " resist him, steadfast in 
the faith ; " and the assurance is given that if he is 
resisted, "he will flee." In all ages of the world, 
and in all nations — Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, 
Indians of the East and of the West ; as well as the 
degraded tribes of Africa ; all have sought the aid, 
and professed to have the power over these unseen 
beings ; and those professing to have this power 
have been consulted and even deified. The most 
melancholy fact is, that not only God's ancient 
covenant people were given to this sin, but that 
in Christian nations, and even in this enlightened 



CONVERSATION XIII. I 23 

age, there are those who are devoted to this abom- 
inable idolatry. 

Edward. Yes, we read of magicians in Egypt, 
soothsayers in Canaan, oracles in Greece and Asia 
Minor, as well as pow-wows among the Indians, and 
witches and spiritualists — where are they not ? 

Jennie. But they do give wonderful answers 
sometimes. 

Mrs. S. How far God may permit men to be 
deceived by evil spirits we do not know, but we do 
know that in judgment for this sin, men are given 
over to the power of the devil. 

Jennie. Can it be right then to consult mediums 
for the cure of diseases ? 

Mrs. S. Our Saviour teaches us to pray : " Lead 
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil " — 
the evil one. Can it be right then to rush into 
temptation, instead of seeking deliverance, or resist- 
ing the enemy ? 

Edward. The desire to know what God has 
seen lit to conceal, and the assurance of the tempter 
that this curiosity shall be gratified, from the time 
of our first mother has led to this sin ; and in 
judgment, the children of disobedience are suffered 
to be deceived. 



CONVERSATION XIV. 



MOSES A TYPE OF CHRIST. DEUTERONOMY. 

THREATENINGS AND PROMISES. FULFILL- 
MENT. — CONDITION OF THE JEWS IN 

UNITED STATES. CENTENNIAL 

GIFT. 

CTUSIE. Jennie and I have been looking at 

^X Moses as he represents Christ. 

Mrs. S. In each of the offices of prophet, priest 

and king, he prefigures Christ. As a prophet, he 

instructed and guided the people ; as a priest he 

interceded for them, and as a king he ruled over 
them. 

Edward. His prophecy of Christ, Deut. 18 : 18. 
shows what office Christ would perform. 

Mrs. S. Yes, when the voice of God was heard 
from the burning mount, and the people entreated, 
" Let not God speak with us, lest we die ; " then 
Moses was commanded to make known to them 
this gracious purpose : " I will raise them up a 
Prophet from among their brethren like unto thee, 
and I will put my words into his mouth ; and he 
shall speak unto them all that I shall command 
him." You have been reading Deuteronomy have 
you not ? 



CONVERSATION XIV. 125 

Susie. Yes, mother, and am greatly interested 
in it. 

Jennie. It means the second law, or the second 
giving of the law. 

Susie. Moses seeks to impress the divine law 
upon the minds of the people. 

Jennie. He also gives an account of the con- 
quest of the nations east of Jordan, and the division 
of this territory between the tribes of Reuben, Gad 
and Manasseh ; also the setting apart three cities, 
Golan, Bezer and Ramoth-Gilead as cities of refuge. 

Mrs. S. You know for what these cities were 
designed ? 

Edward. Yes, mother, when one had accidently 
killed another, he might flee to one of these cities 
and be safe. The nearest relative of a murdered 
person was permitted to avenge his death ; there- 
fore in the city of refuge, the case was tried, and 
if proved unintentional, the person was protected, 
though he must remain there until the death of the 
high priest ; but if it was a wilful murder, he was 
delivered to the avenger. The city of refuge was 
thus an emblem of Christ. 

Susie. There were to be six of these cities, three 
on each side of Jordan. 

Jennie. There were to be in all the land, forty- 
eight cities assigned to the Levites ; and the cities 
of refuge were Levitical cities. Mother, will you 
please explain how the priests and Levites were to 
be supported ? 



126 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. A tenth part of all the products of the 
ground, the grain, the fruit, the wine, the oil, and 
honey, and also of the fleeces of the sheep, was to 
be given to the Levites ; but of this tenth, they 
were to give one tenth to the priests. You know 
the Levites were appointed to perform the taber- 
nacle service, instead of the first-born of the Israel- 
ites. Before leaving Mt. Sinai, the Levites thirty 
years old and over, were numbered, and the first- 
born, one month old. There were two hundred 
and thirteen more of the infants, than of the Levites, 
and five sheckels had to be given for each infant, 
for its redemption. 

Edward. Moses impresses upon the people their 
obligation to obey all the commands of God, and 
also declares that the good land was not given to 
them for any righteousness of theirs : but that the 
inhabitants for their wickedness were to be driven 
out. 

Jennie. What fearful consequences he says will 
come upon them if not obedient. 

Mrs. S. While he shows the importance of 
knowing the law and obeying it ; he directs them 
after passing over Jordan, to erect an altar on Mt. 
Ebal, and on this to inscribe the whole law. Hav- 
ing done this, six tribes should stand upon Mt. 
Ebal, and six upon Mt. Gerizim ; and then from 
Mt. Ebal the Levites should pronounce curses upon 
those who should not obey these laws, and from Mt. 
Gerizim blessings upon the obedient. In the 






CONVERSATION XIV. I 27 

twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy we find the 
blessings they should enjoy if obedient, and the 
judgments that should come upon them, if they 
forsake the Lord and do not regard his holy laws. 

Edward. The history of the Israelites gives us 
the fulfillment of these prophecies. There were 
periods when they feared the Lord, and kept his 
covenant ; then the blessings here promised were 
abundantly bestowed ; but their departures from 
God were so frequent, and the judgments so surely 
followed ; that we are more impressed with the 
visitation of the curses, than of the promised bless- 
ings. Let us read Deut. 28. (Edward reads.) 

Airs. S. Let us now point out some marked 
instances of their fulfillment. 

Susie. Among the blessings promised to Israel 
if obedient, I notice the assurance, that " God 
would be with them ; " they should "dwell safely," 
and the " people of the earth should be afraid of 
them." This certainly was fulfilled, when the men 
of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, went over Jordan 
to help the other tribes ; their wives and children 
were left defenceless surrounded by enemies, yet 
they were not molested. So in aftertimes, when 
the men went up to Jerusalem at the three great 
feasts, there was never an instance of invasion, 
though the women and children were left defence- 
less. 

Jennie. Then there should be an abundance of 
all the fruits of the earth ; they should be blessed 



128 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

in the city as well as in the field, and their people 
should greatly multiply. This their history proved. 

Edward. Their enemies should flee bofore them 
so long as they were faithful, and looked to God 
for aid ; " one should chase a thousand, and two 
put ten thousand to flight." This was wonderfully 
fulfilled, when the pious Jehosaphat, having look- 
ed to God for aid, went forth to meet the enemy 
singing praises to his holy name. Three hostile na- 
tions were arrayed against him, but as he entered 
the field of battle ; " The children of Amnion and 
of Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mt. 
Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them ; and when 
they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, 
everyone helped to destroy another." Israel had 
only to collect the spoil. 

Jennie. The same was true of Asa — without 
striking a blow, an army of one million fled before 
him 

Susie. In the curses pronounced ; a deed so 
fearful is foretold, that one would think it never 
could be done ; that a mother should feed upon 
her own child. 

Mrs. S. y If you turn to 2 Kings 6 : 28, 29, you 
will find that this deed was actually committed. It 
was by a mother in the city of Samaria. Another 
instance of the same kind occurred in the seige of 
Jerusalem by Titus. 

Edward. Another judgment is threatened, that 
seemed unlikely ever to take place, but of which I 



CONVERSATION XIV. 129 

have found the fulfillment. " Thy sons and thy 
daughters shall be given to another people." In 
Spain and Portugal, the children of Jews, were 
actually taken from their parents, to be educated 
in the papal religion. 

Jennie. Another prophecy is : " Thou shalt be- 
come an astonishment, and a proverb, and a by- 
word among all nations whither the Lord thy God 
shall lead thee." This our every day knowledge 
proves to be true ; for there is no name that ans- 
wers to this description like that of a Jew. 

Mrs. S. Another threatened judgment was, that 
they should flee before their enemies, their cities 
besieged and taken ; and that by their enemies, 
they should be " scattered among the heathen." 
This was fulfilled in the captivity of the ten tribes 
by the Assyrians, and in the captivity of Judah by 
Nebuchadnezzar. The nation, that the Lord should 
bring against them from afar, from the ends of the 
earth, was doubtless the Romans. The history of 
this people as recorded in the Bible, is a record of 
calamities ; but the narrative given after this his- 
tory closes, is a record traced with blood. The 
miseries endured in the siege of Jerusalem by Titus 
in the year 70, are appalling. The compasionate 
Saviour wept over Jerusalem, as he foresaw these 
calamities, and that not one stone should be left 
upon another of that sacred building which was 
their glory. When crowded with the multitudes 
that had assembled for the Passover, the city was 



130 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

besieged and surrounded by a trench, so that there 
was no escape. Famine, pestilence, and fightings 
with each other slew their thousands ; six thousand 
perished with the temple, set on fire against the 
command of Titus, thus fulfilling prophecy. Sur- 
render they would not, and the deaths by cruci- 
fixion were so numerous, that it was hard to find 
wood for crosses, or places for these instruments of 
death. In the annals of the world these miseries 
have no parallel ; even the Roman general could 
not refrain from groans, declaring that he was not 
accountable for these sufferings. More than a mil- 
lion perished in this siege. 

Edward. And in a succeeding reign — that of 
Adrian — Jerusalem was again taken ; the inhabi- 
tants banished, and forbidden ever again to enter 
their city. 

Susie. They uere to be scattered among all na- 
tions, and this we know has come to pass, for there 
is not a country that has no Jews. 

Jennie. And while scattered among the nations, 
it is their doom to be everwhere unwelcome. 

Mrs. S. The Jews are a standing memorial of 
the truth of the Bible, and that it was written by 
divine inspiration ; for events foretold more than 
three thousand years ago, are now in process of 
fulfillment. The fact that the Jews keep them- 
selves so separate from other people, renders this 
evidence plain to all who are willing to be con- 
vinced. 



CONVERSATION XIV. 131 

Susie. I have heard that it is only in the United 
States that the Jews have never been persecuted. 

Edward. This is really true, and their gratitude 
for the freedom here enjoyed, was beautifully indi- 
cated by the Centennial gift presented to our Gov- 
ernment ; unveiled on the last day of the exhibition. 
It is a colossal group symbolizing religious liberty. 

Jennie. I wish you would deseribe it. 

Edward. I will do it as well as I can. A woman 
is standing — on her breast the stars and stripes ; 
her left hand resting on a bundle of rods which 
represents the union ; a naked boy stands beside 
her — a symbol of faith ; ah enormous serpent en- 
circles the rods, while an eagle has buried his 
talons in the serpent — all this with the scrolls of 
the constitution, and a wreath of laurel — while with 
her right hand she bids defiance to any infringe- 
ment of her rights. 

Jennie. The Jews are not now persecuted any- 
where — are they ? 

Mrs. S. Not as they have been. To belong to 
a particular race, or to advance certain opinions, is 
not now thought worthy of death ; the sword and 
the stake, are not therefore used for purifying the 
world. 

Edward. But in Roumelia, a province of Tur- 
key, the Jews some years since were much op- 
pressed. 

Mrs. S. Yes, the spirit of persecution does 
linger where false religion prevails ; as is evident in 



17,2 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mexico as well as in Turkey. In most countries 
there has been a great change in the condition of 
the Jews. This is especially true in England. 
Lord Beaconsfield, who now occupies so prominent 
a position in the government, is a Jew. 

Jennie. The Rothschilds, the richest people in 
the world, are Jews. 

Susie. The Jews generally are rich — " as rich as 
a Jew," has passed into a proverb. 

Edward. They are generally engaged in trade, 
but they are not inferior in intellectual ability, and 
are law-abiding citizens. 



CONVERSATION XV. 



MOSES LAST WORDS. JOSHUA HIS SUCCESSOR. 

MOSES' SONG. BLESSING OF THE TRIBES. HIS 

DEATH. HISTORY OF JOSHUA. RAHAB. 

CROSSING THE JORDAN. OBSERVANCE 

OF ORDINANCES. 

MRS. SELWYN. We became so much inter- 
ested in the Jews, last evening, that we quite 
lost sight of Moses. 

Susie. And it was the very last day of his life ; 
he was just about to bid his people farewell. 

Edward. In the morning, all Israel assembled 
to hear his last words. He first reminds them of 
their covenant with God at Horeb, and then calls 
upon them to renew this covenant here in the land 
of Moab. 

Jennie. He speaks of the wonders God had 
wrought for them : without bread or wine, for forty 
years they had been sustained ; their clothes had 
not worn out, not even their shoes, with all the 
miles they had traveled. 

Mrs. S. Life and death, blessing and cursing, 
he sets before them ; and he entreats them to 



134 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

choose life, and assures them that it is only to be 
found in the pathway of obedience. 

Edward. "I am/' says he, "this day one hun- 
dred and twenty years old ; I can no more go out 
and come in ; also, the Lord hath said unto me : 
Thou shalt not go over this Jordan." 

Jennie. He seems a father to them all, and I 
think the tears run down his cheeks, as he speaks 
of seeing them no more. 

Susie. How he tries to comfort them : " The 
Lord thy God, he will go over before thee." 
Joshua, he says, will take my place ; and as Sihon 
and Og have fallen before thee, so will the nations 
of Canaan. 

Edward. Then he calls Joshua, and encourages 
him, saying: "God will not fail thee nor forsake 
thee." As they stood together at the door of the 
tabernacle, the Lord drew near in the pillar of 
cloud, and this charge was given to Joshua : " Be 
strong and of good courage : for thou shalt bring 
the children of Israel into the land which I sware 
unto them : and I will be with thee." 

Mrs. S. To the priests and the elders of Israel, 
Moses gave this charge — at the same time present- 
ing them with a copy of the law: "At the end of 
every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of 
release, in the feast of tabernacles, when all Israel 
is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the 
place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this 
law before all Israel in their hearing." 



CONVERSATION XV. 1 35 

Jennie. This would be on every yearly Sabbath, 
when all the men, women and children were to be 
present. 

Susie. Moses gave another copy to the Levites, 
with this charge : " Take this book of the law, and 
put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the 
Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness 
against thee." 

Mrs. S. On this same day, the Lord made 
known to Moses, that this people would break their 
covenant ; forsaking the Lord, and going after 
other gods, so that His anger would be kindled 
against them ; He would forsake them, and bring 
evil upon them. He therefore says to Moses : 
"Now therefore write ye this song for you, and 
teach it the children of Israel : put it in their 
mouths, that this song may be a witness for me 
against the children of Israel." Moses then wrote 
this song, and repeated it in the ears of all the 
congregation of Israel. He also explained to the 
leading men what God had made known to him, 
and impressed them with the obligation resting 
upon them. 

Edward. I think Joshua and the officers of the 
tribes first learned the song, and then went through 
the camp repeating it to the people, until they 
knew it perfectly. 

Susie. And what a wonderful poem it is. How 
clearly it makes known the wickedness of man, and 
the holiness of God — all his attributes : justice, 



136 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

truth, righteousness ; his indignation against sin, 
his mercy to the penitent. Do let us read it 
together ; I think we ought to learn it, as the 
Israelites did. 

Mrs. S. I think so ; but now let us read it in 
concert. [They read.] 

Edward. I trust it will make an impression 
upon our hearts, as we hope it did upon the hearts 
of the Israelites. 

Mrs. S. We are told that it was this selfsame 
day, that God directed Moses to go upon Mt. 
Nebo, — there to behold the land of Canaan, and 
then die upon the mount. His blessing of the 
tribes must have been the last thing before his 
ascent. The benediction upon each, seems the 
earnest desire of his heart for their good. To 
Reuben, suffering under the divine penalty for his 
transgression, he says : " Let Reuben live, and not 
die ; and let not his men be few." 

Edward. Simeon is not mentioned ; I wonder 
why he was left out? 

Mrs. S. We cannot tell. The tribe was now 
very small. 

Susie. The penalty of Jacob upon Simeon was 
the same as upon Levi. 

Mrs. S. But to the Levites, the curse became a 
blessing, for the Lord was their inheritance. This 
was the prophet's own tribe ; but he was especially 
impressed with the privileges of those who should 
minister at the altar : the Urim and Thummim — 






CONVERSATION XV. 137 

" lights and perfections " — the symbols of the 
divine presence granted to the high priest in the 
holy of holies. 

Edward. In verse ninth, Moses refers to some 
event in relation to this tribe : " Neither did he 
acknowledge his brethren, nor know his own 
children ; for they have observed thy word, and 
kept thy covenant." Will you please tell us what 
this was ? 

Mrs. S. With pleasure ; but first I would remind 
you of the blessing promised in the second com- 
mandment, " showing mercy unto thousands of 
them that love me, and keep my commandments ; " 
for here we have a fulfillment of this promise. 
You recollect the worship of the golden calf, and 
that when Moses said, "Who is on the Lord's 
side ? " the sons of Levi took a decided stand, and, 
without questioning, obeyed his command. 

Edward. And what a command : " Go in and 
out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and 
slay every man his brother, and every man his com- 
panion, and every man his neighbor." 

Mrs. S. Yes, upon every one, however near or 
dear, who had joined in this idolatrous worship, 
death must be inflicted ; and they obeyed this 
command. Moses no doubt refers to this occasion. 

Susie. And how plainly this teaches us to take 
a decided stand for Christ. It is just as our 
Saviour teaches : " He that taketh not his cross 
and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." 



138 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. The blessing of Judah implies his great 
responsibility as a tribe : " Let his hands be suffi- 
cient for him ; and be thou a help to him from his 
enemies." After the administration of Joshua, 
Judah was the leading tribe. 

Jennie. I do not understand the blessing of 
Benjamin : " The beloved of the Lord shall dwell 
in safety by him ; and the Lord shall cover him all 
the day long, and he shall dwell between his 
shoulders." 

Mrs, S. The inheritance of Benjamin was next 
to that of Judah ; a part of the city of Jerusalem 
was within his territory. When the ten tribes 
revolted, establishing a separate government and an 
idolatrous religion, Benjamin remained united with 
Judah, adhering to the family of David and the 
worship of the God of Israel. Thus he was pre- 
served when Israel was scattered ; the Lord was his 
protector, and he dwelt in safety. 

Edward. Zebulun and Issachar — the one is 
declared blessed " in his going out," and the other 
blessed "in his tents." This was fulfilled in a 
striking manner. Zebulun became seafaring, suck- 
ing " the abundance of the seas ; " Issachar agricul- 
tural, finding u treasures hid in the sand." 

Mrs. S. Upon the head of Joseph, he desires 
that all " the precious things of the earth, and the 
fullness thereof " may rest ; but especially " the 
good will of Him that dwelt in the bush ; " declar- 
ing them to be "the ten thousands of Ephraim," 



CONVERSATION XV. 1 39 

and " the thousands of Manasseh." His power is 
indicated by "horns like horns of unicorns," with 
which " he shall push the people together to the 
ends of the earth." This prophecy was fulfilled in 
Joshua, of the tribe of Ephraim, by his conquest 
of the nations of Canaan. 

Jennie. Gad is compared to a lion ; of whom 
Jacob predicted military glory. His inheritance 
was east of Jordan, from whence he went to help 
the other tribes ; thus he " provided the first part 
for himself," and then helped the others. Moses 
calls Dan a lion's whelp, while Jacob calls him an 
adder. Dr. Scott says both were emblems of 
Samson. 

Susie. Great favor and many blessings are 
promised to Xaphtali and Asher. Their lots lay 
side by side, in the northern part of Canaan. The 
Jews say the first fruits were brought sooner from 
Xaphtali than from other tribes. Asher should be 
" blessed with children," and " dip his foot in oil." 
His inheritance was very fruitful. But the best 
part of his blessing was the promise : " As thy 
days, so shall thy strength be." "Thy shoes shall 
be iron and brass," is the first part of the promise, 
meaning, I suppose, about the same thing. 

Mrs. S. We do not know much about this tribe. 
Anna, of gospel times, was of the tribe of Asher. 
The promise is a precious one, upon which every 
child of God may rely. 

Stisie. Now the venerable patriarch leaves his 



140 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

beloved people ; he ascends the mountain, beholds 
the promised land, and then enters his heavenly 
home. 

Jennie. I should not think any one was with 
him in these last hours. But his was a happy 
death ; his work was done, his trials ended, and the 
Lord was with him. 

Edward. That mourning for a whole month was 
a sincere mourning, for all Israel mourned the loss 
of a father ; but God had provided a man to take 
his place, full of the spirit of wisdom. His name, 
Joshua, is the same as Jesus ; and his bringing the 
Israelites into the promised land, was a type of our 
Saviour Jesus, — in bringing His people into the 
heavenly Canaan. 

Jennie. Now, mother, please tell us what you 
know of Joshua. 

Mrs. S. On three occasions he had been distin- 
guished. First, at Rephidim, in commanding the 
army against the Amalekites ; as Moses prays, 
Aaron and Hur holding up his hands, Joshua is 
triumphant. We next see him at Mt. Sinai, going 
with Moses as he ascends the mount, and returning 
with him after the forty days. Again, we find him 
one of the spies sent to search the land ; and with 
Caleb, faithful among the faithless. 

Ediuard. The days of mourning being ended, 
Joshua is directed to prepare for the entrance into 
Canaan. All must be ready on the third day. 

Jennie. Now Joshua sends two men as spies to 



CONVERSATION XV. 141 

Jericho. Here comes in the story of Rahab, who 
received and protected these spies. 

Susie. This she was led to do by faith. She 
believed, in the power of Israel's God, that Jericho 
would be taken, and begged that she might be 
saved. 

Jennie. Her house was on the wall ; and if she 
will bind the scarlet line in the window by which 
she lets them down, they promise that she, and all 
her friends taking refuge there, shall be saved. 

Mrs. S. It is interesting to know that Christ 
descended from this believing Canaanite. Salmon, 
the prince of Judah, married her, and Boaz, the 
husband of Ruth, was her son. 

Edward. Now let us look at the Israelites, as 
they cross the Jordan, at this season overflowing its 
banks. At the command of Joshua, the priests 
bearing the ark of the covenant, dip their feet in 
the water ; then the water piles up, heaps upon 
heaps farther up the river, so that the channel is 
dry. The priests march to the centre of the river's 
bed, and stand still until the people have all passed 
over. When all have reached the other side, the 
priests follow, and the river flows on as before. 

Mrs. S. But their faith was to have another 
trial. Circumcision while in the wilderness not 
having been performed, they are now commanded 
to observe this ordinance, though with enemies on 
every side the men will thus be rendered unable 
to defend themselves. Then seven days are to be 



142 LIGHT FROM HISTORY 

devoted to the observance of the Passover. Duties 
to God first, whatever the consequences may be ; 
but no power could injure them while God is on 
their side. On the tenth day of the first month, 
they cross the Jordan ; on the fourteenth is the 
day for the Passover. 

Susie. I never thought before, how great a trial 
this must have been to their faith. 

Mrs. S. It is hard to leave this people, but it is 
past our time for closing. 



CONVERSATION XVI. 



THE FALL OF JERICHO. THE SIN OF ACHAN. THE 

CONQUEST OF CANAAN. THE PERIOD OF THE 

JUDGES. THF STORY OF RUTH. 

MRS. SELWYN. We can now look upon the 
Israelites in the land of Canaan, encamped at 
Gilgal near the river Jordan. 

Susie. Yes, they are all safe, eating real bread ; 
for the day after the Passover the manna ceased ; 
because they could now have the old corn of the 
land. 

Edward. The Canaanites are greatly terrified 
the city of Jericho is shut up ; the people, I suppose, 
feel safe within their strong walls ; perhaps laugh 
at the idea of this company of men, women and 
children being able to batter them down ; but I 
think they trembled while they laughed. 

Mrs. S. I presume this was the case, but as the 
Israelites for six days marched round their city 
and no harm came to them, I think they made fun 
of the performance, and called them a set of great 
fools. On the seventh day, as they kept going 
round and round, the merriment probably became 
boisterous ; when suddenly the trumpets' blast, 



144 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

and the thundering shout startle them, and down 
come their walls. Then what consternation — every- 
where death and destruction. 

Susie. But Rahab — where is Rahab ? Her 
house was on the wall. 

Mrs. S. Rahab, you may be sure, is safe. 
Joshua has taken care of her. The two spies have 
her and her family in a safe place. 

Edward. We read in Heb. n : 30, 31, that " by 
faith the harlot Rahab perished not ; " and also 
that "by faith the walls of Jericho fell down." I 
never saw how it was by faith that the walls fell ; 
I see it now. This company of men, were in silence 
to march round the city, not even touching the 
wall, believing God would thus cause the result 
which they desired, and which he had promised. 
Their faith in Him led them to do just what He 
commanded. The promise was conditional ; the 
means which He required must be used, or He 
would not cause the result. 

Jennie. And they were plainly told just what 
they must do. There must be seven priests, seven 
trumpets ; they must go round the city seven days, 
and seven times on the seventh day ; then the wall 
will come down. But there must be silence until 
the trumpets' blast ; and then the shout. 

Mrs. S. The Divine Being, called the " Captain 
of the Lord's host " — Josh. 5 : 13, 15, no doubt gave 
these commands. From the institution of the Sab- 
bath, seven we find the sacred number, and it is 
interesting to note the divisions thus made. 



CONVERSATION XVI. 145 

Edward. But while the city was thus laid open 
to the Israelites, there were recjiiirements that 
cost them much self-denial. Jericho was a rich 
city, and these people were in great need, yet every 
thing must be destroyed but the precious metals, 
and these devoted to God. 

Jennie. Yes, only to think, they had had no new 
clothes for forty years, and yet nothing might be 
saved from the flames. 

Susie. But their clothes were not worn out, not 
even their shoes. 

Jennie. But if you had never had a new dress, 
you would have wanted these nice things. 

Mrs. S. I have often thought of this, and in- 
stead of being surprised that there was one Achan, 
it seems to me wonderful that there was only one. 

Edward. I think more persons than one were 
guilty of the deed. Achan's wife and children 
were condemned to the same punishment as him- 
self. His wife may have tempted him to lay hold 
of that beautiful Babylonish garment. 

Mrs. S. They probably were united in the evil 
deed, and in seeking to conceal it. By taking the 
gold and silver, Achan robbed God, a sin of which 
many now are guilty. 

Susie. They thought they would not be found 
out, and we are all slow to learn that we cannot 
hide anything from God. 

Edward. Mother, you know that this sin of 
Achan- caused the defeat at Ai. Now I have been 



J46 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

thinking that the want of success in attacking the 
strongholds of Satan, is owing to sin among pro- 
fessing Christians. The divine promises are con- 
ditional ; a covenant obligation is binding on him 
who is to receive, as on him who gives. Am I not 
right, mother ? 

Mrs. S. Your views are in accordance with the 
judgment of men, as well as the word of God. If 
we would receive a blessing from God, we must 
" bring all the tithes into the storehouse." Mai. 

3 : IO - 

Jennie. It seems to me strange, that they must 
cast lots to find the guilty person. 

Mrs. S. Not at all Jennie. This method is of 
divine appointment. It is an appeal to God to 
make known his will ; in this case to bring the 
guilty one to light. Casting lots, like the taking of 
an oath, is lawful when performed with solemnity 
and reverence ; but a thoughtless appeal to God is 
profanity, a taking of his name in vain. 

Susie. But no mercy was shown to Achan, 
though he confessed his sin. He and his family 
were put to death, and then God blessed his people, 
and gave them success against their enemies. Ai 
was now taken. 

Mrs. S. You say that Achan confessed his sin, 
but it was not a voluntary confession, and there is 
no evidence of his repentance. We are here taught, 
that God requires the exercise of justice as well as 
of mercy. 



CONVERSATION XVI. 147 

Edward. From this time victory attended the 
arms of Israel. The powers of nature aided them ; 
in one battle a storm — hailstones causing greater 
destruction than the sword, and the day was length- 
ened to enable Joshua to complete his victory. 
This account I find Josh. 10 : n, 14. 

Mrs. S. You will find in Ex. 23 f 28, that hor- 
nets should aid them in driving out the nations of 
Canaan, and the promise is again repeated Deut. 7 : 
20 ; then in Josh. 24 : 12, you will find the record 
of its fulfillment, and that thus the Amorites were 
driven out. 

Edward. The nations of Canaan seemed some 
of them quite overcome by fear ; the Gibeonites 
surrendered, or rather by craft obtained safety ; 
but thirty-one kings fell before the hosts of Israel. 

Mrs. S. Thus the land promised to Abraham 
became the inheritance of his posterity ; and by lot 
was divided among them. 

Jennie. How long was it before they were set- 
tled in their new homes ? 

Mrs. S. The precise time is not given, but it is 
thought to have been about seven years. Timnath- 
heres in Ephraim was given to Joshua ; and he 
lived there in retirement, some years. His influence 
was a blessing to the people. He twice assembled 
the leading men of the tribes, and gave them a sol- 
emn charge. He was a saviour to the people of 
Israel, a type of Him who is the Saviour of a lost 
world. 



148 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. This seems to have been a pious genera- 
tion, and the people continued to serve the Lord all 
the days of Joshua, and of those who had seen the 
wonderful works of God, the generation who were 
children when they came out of Egypt. 

Jennie. Joshua did not appoint any one as his 
successor. 

Mrs. S. Nor did he rule over the people after 
they were settled in Canaan. This was by divine 
direction. The nation was to have no ruler. They 
were thus to understand, that the Lord was their 
Lawgiver and their King. 

Edward. Judah was appointed the leading tribe. 
The tabernacle was set up at Shiloh, a city of Eph- 
raim not far from Timnath-heres. Here the high 
priest resided, and here the people assembled three 
times a year at the three great feasts. The Levites 
had their homes in all parts of the land, some I 
suppose in each tribe. Let us look at the map and 
see the divisions occupied by each tribe. Shiloh 
was near the centre. 

Jennie. I wonder how the people behaved when 
they had no ruler. 

Susie. I think they might have done just what is 
right, for God had given them laws ; all they had 
to do was to obey them. 

Mrs. S. This is true ; but it can be said of peo- 
ple in our day, as well as of those who lived three 
thousand years ago. But if the spirit of obedience 
is wanting, it is not easy to keep people in order, 
even with good laws and good rulers. 



CONVERSATION XVI. 149 

Edward. To know how these people did behave 
when left to do what was right in the sight of their 
own eyes, we have only to read the book of Judges. 
Here we shall find the history of their evil doings, 
and the consequences that followed. They would 
worship the gods of their heathen neighbors ; then 
God would give them up to the oppression of their 
enemies ; and they usually suffered many years 
before they would humble themselves, and look to 
God for deliverance. When they repented, and 
turned to the Lord, he heard their prayers and 
raised up a deliverer. These persons were men of 
faith, and were called judges. 

Jennie. Yes, I remember Gideon, who overthrew 
a great army of Midianites and Amalekites, with 
only three hundred men without any weapons but 
trumpets, pitchers and lamps. 

Mrs. S. But at first, you know, he had thirty- 
two thousand. How came he to have only three 
hundred ? 

Susie. First God directed that all who were 
afraid should go home. After these had left, he 
had only twenty thousand ; he was bidden then to 
take his men to a stream of water to drink, and to 
keep in his army only those who lapped the water 
instead of kneeling down to drink. 

Jennie. There were three hundred of these ; 
but I should not have thought anyone would have 
lapped water as a dog does. 

Edward. This was the way they did ; not stop- 



150 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ping to drink, they caught up some water in the 
hand, and lapped it as they went along. This 
showed them to be earnest men. 

Mrs. S. Yes, you are right. How great faith 
Gideon needed, to go with only this three hundred 
against these hosts of the enemy ; but he did just 
what God told him without any questioning In 
the dead of night, each took a trumpet in one hand, 
and in the other a pitcher with a burning lamp in- 
side of it. Entering the camp of the sleeping army, 
each one blows his trumpet, and breaks his pitcher. 
Roused from their sleep by the sound of trumpets 
and the glare of light, they are seized with terror, 
and these thousands flee before the unarmed three 
hundred, drawing their swords upon each other. 

Jennie. Here was fulfillment of prophecy : "One 
shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to 
flight." 

Susie. Sampson, the strongest man, was a judge. 
The Philistines then oppressed Israel. He was a 
man of faith, but he did some strange things. 

Jennie. And some very comical ones ; as tying 
fire brands between the tails of foxes to burn up the 
corn of the Philistines. 

Susie. He would have a Philistine woman for a 
wife, and then told her where his strength lay. His 
hair being cut off, he was no stronger than other 
men, so that he was thrown into a dungeon and his 
eyes put out. 

Jennie. He was a Nazarite ; his hair was never 
cut, and here was his strength. 



CONVERSATION XVI. 151 

Edward. But as his hair grew, his strength re- 
turned, so that he pulled down a house, and thus 
killed a multitude, himself among them. 

Jennie. Jephthah was a judge. He conquered 
the Amorites, and sacrificed his daughter. 

Mrs. S. No Jennie, — human sacrifices were not 
permitted ; she was dedicated to God, and never 
married. His promise was to give to God whatever 
met him. 

Edward. I will name the other Judges : Othniel, 
Ehud, Deborah and Barak, Shamgar, Tola, J air, 
Elon,. Abdon, Ibzam, and the last two were Eli and 
Samuel. In this period occurred the war of the 
Benjaminites with the other tribes ; when, as Jacob 
declared of him, Benjamin acted out the spirit of 
the wolf ; also the story of Micah's being robbed of 
his image, and idolatry being set up in the city of 
Dan. 

Susie. The story of Ruth is also in this period ; 
but there is a delightful change from the wickedness 
and wars described in Judges, to the pleasant 
scenes brought before us in the story of Ruth. The 
change is like that from a bloody battle-field to a 
beautiful garden. 

Mrs. S. It is true, that although we do find 
scenes of sorrow, as famine, exile and bereavement, 
that make Naomi quite broken hearted, yet Ruth's 
unselfish devotion gives a charm to the whole story. 

Edzuard. We all sympathize with Naomi in her 
sorrows, and are pleased with her kindness in 



152 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

desiring her daughters to remain in their own coun- 
try ; and yet I cannot see how she could wish them 
to go back to their idol-gods, instead of accompany- 
ing her to a land where the true God was known 
and worshiped. 

Jennie. Ruth is so unselfish we cannot help 
loving her. Orpah yielded to her mother's entreat- 
ies, but of Ruth it is said : " She clave unto her." 
And when she got unto Bethlehem, how ready she 
was to do anything for her, even to go out into the 
field and gather the stalks of grain that the reapers 
had dropped. 

Susie. How glad we are that Boaz takes notice 
of her, and becomes her friend. We love him for 
his kindness to Ruth. He was Rahab's son, you 
know. 

Mrs. S. This devotion of Ruth to her mother- 
in-law, which led her to give up all her earthly com- 
forts, is pleasing to everyone ; but a higher motive 
than this, was the mainspring that moved her to 
this decision ; " thy people shall be my people, and 
thy God my God." Rahab, moved by fear, cast in 
her lot with the people of God, but Ruth, drawn by 
love, put her trust under the shadow of His wings. 
Each gave evidence of a living faith in the God of 
Israel, by renouncing her idols and uniting with 
His people ; and each was honored, not only in 
being the mother of a generation of kings, but of 
the King of kings. 

Jennie. How beautiful are these thoughts, dear 



CONVERSATION XVI. 1 53 

mother ; they give an interest to the story of Ruth, 
which I never felt before. 

Edward. The period of the Judges was one of 
great backsliding. In the time of Eli, wickedness 
abounded. Eli was high priest as well as judge, 
and lived at Shiloh. The Philistines greatly op- 
pressed Israel. The dates of this period are uncer- 
tain. We know that the entrance into Canaan was 
145 1 B. C, and that Saul began to reign 1095 B. C, 
so that this period was three hundred and fifty-six 
years, but we do not know the intervening dates. 
Samuel was the last judge, and the first prophet. 

Mrs. S. We will spend our next evening with 
him. 



CONVERSATION XVII. 



HANNAH S CONSECRATION. SAMUEL S CALL. THE 

ARK OF GOD TAKEN. JUDGMENTS UPON THE 

PHILISTINES. — UPON THE BETHSHEMITES. 

SAMUEL A PROPHET AND A JUDGE. 

JENNIE. What a precious little child Samuel 
was. 

Susie. He had a praying mother ; and among 
his earliest impressions was his being dedicated to 
God. 

Jennie. Yes, she is introduced to us in the 
tabernacle, praying for a son, and making the 
solemn vow that he should be the Lord's. 

Mrs. Selwyn. And she called his name Samuel, 
which means, " asked of God/' 

Susie. And she did just what she said she 
would. As soon as he was weaned — about three 
years old, I suppose — she placed him with the aged 
high priest. 

Mrs. S. Yes, her language is : " As long as he 
liveth he shall be lent to the Lord." The father 
unites with her, and with an offering they take him 
to the house of God. 



CONVERSATION XVII. 155 

Susie. Strange that she should put him away 
from her so young. 

Edward. I dare say she thought he could do 
something ; and he did "minister before the Lord." 
She thought this was the way to fit him for a higher 
work. 

Mrs. S. And were not her hopes more than 
realized ? God accepted her offering, and how 
blessed the fruit of her faith. He was a minister- 
ing spirit to the aged Eli, who had no comfort in 
his own children. But God gave Samuel a higher 
privilege even when a child ; for the Lord stood 
near him, called him by name, and gave him a 
message to the aged priest. 

Jennie. How beautiful this story. Being sure 
it is the voice of Eli, he runs to him to ask what 
he can do for him, but is told : " I called thee not, 
my son ; lie down again." Three times this is re- 
peated ; and then, perceiving that it is the voice of 
God which the child hears, Eli bids him reply : 
u Speak, Lord ; for thy servant heareth." 

Susie. Most children would have been frightened 
with this idea ; but Samuel goes back alone to his 
bed, and listens for the voice. Again he hears the 
call, " Samuel, Samuel," and replies : " Speak, 
Lord ; for thy servant heareth." 

Edward. How solemn the message from God : 
the judgments that should come upon Eli, for not 
training his children up in the right way. 

Jennie. He was afraid to tell Eli God's message 



156 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

to him ; but as Eli insists upon it, he obeys. 

Mrs. S. And the reply of Eli shows that he felt 
his sin, and was submissive to God. 

Edward. There was war at this time with the 
Philistines. 

Mrs. S. And the people, in their distress, pre- 
vailed upon the priests — the sons of Eli — to carry 
the ark to the battle-field. 

Susie. And the Philistines, believing it was 
their God, fought desperately, and bore it off in 
triumph, and killed the priests. 

Jennie. This caused the death of Eli ; for when 
he heard that the ark was taken, he fell backward 
and died. 

Edward. But the triumph of the Philistines was 
short ; for the judgments of God compelled them 
to return the ark. Their god dragon was broken, 
and the emerods — little insects — tormented them. 

Jennie. The lords of the Philistines put it in 
charge of two cows, and they carried it safely to the 
land of Israel ; going without a driver, and leaving 
their calves at home. 

Edward. Beth-shemesh was the first place in 
Israel that they entered ; and here the people 
received the sacred treasure with great joy and 
thanksgiving ; but they were guilty of such irrever- 
ence, that many were struck dead — fifty thousand, 
it is said. 

Mrs. S. There is an error here, I think, in our 
translation. Instead of beingr rendered " Even 



CONVERSATION XVII. 157 

He smote of the people fifty thousand three score 
and ten," it should read, " He smote of the people 
fifty in a thousand, even three score and ten." 

fennie. How easy to make the mistake in trans- 
lating : leaving out the in, and putting even in the 
wrong place. Josephus says it was seventy, and 
this makes it the same. 

Edward. The people of Beth-shemesh were 
struck with such terror that they sent to the people 
of Kirjath-jearim — a Levitical city — to come and 
take it. They did ; and it remained there twenty 
years. 

Mrs. S. We learn from this event, and also from 
the threatening pronounced upon Eli, how danger- 
ous to disregard God's commands. Because Eli's 
sons made th ems-elves vile and he restrained them 
not, God declares : " All the increase of thy house 
shall die in the flower of their age." Hophni and 
Phinehas were slain in one day, and in turning to 
I Samuel 22 : 17, 18, you will find that the eighty- 
five priests slain by Doeg, at the command of the 
merciless Saul, were the descendants of Eli. 

Edward. Samuel was now the leading man in 
the nation ; a prophet and a judge — the first in the 
one office, and the last in the other. He impressed 
the people with the guilt of idolatry, and there 
seems to have been a real turning to God under his 
influence. They put away their idols, and, in great 
numbers, came to him at Mizpeh for divine worship. 

Mrs. S. Here they fasted, mourned and wept, 



158 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

confessing their sins, while Samuel prayed for them. 

Jennie. And just at this time a great army of 
the Philistines came in sight while Samuel was at 
the altar sacrificing a lamb. 

Susie. But he did not stop praying ; he only 
pleaded more earnestly that God would deliver 
them from their enemies. 

Edward. Just think of their condition : without 
any armor, at a religious meeting, and a mighty 
host coming right upon them. But how safe to 
trust in God. All we are told is, " that the Lord 
thundered with a great thunder on that day upon 
the Philistines, and discomfited them." How 
easily can He who rules the elements, use them for 
the protection of His people, and the destruction 
of their enemies. 

Mrs. S. It was after this wonderful deliverance 
that Samuel set up the stone which he named 
Ebenezer — the stone of help — a monument to wit- 
ness ; " Hitherto the Lord hath helped us." The 
Israelites were prosperous and happy under his 
wise administration, and free from the oppression 
of their enemies. 

Edward. He managed affairs with so much 
equity, that when he appealed to the people to wit- 
ness if he had ever wronged them, with united 
voice they testified to his uprightness : " Thou hast 
not defrauded us, nor oppressed us ; neither hast 
thou taken aught of any man's hand." 

Susie. They, however, found fault with his sons. 



CONVERSATION XVII. 159 

Mrs. S. I .think there were some, glad of an 
excuse for fault-finding. They wanted a king like 
other nations. Samuel told them that in this they 
were not rejecting him, but rejecting God. 

Susie. Still God directed Samuel to comply with 
their wishes ; but I think one of the prophets says : 
" I gave thee a king in mine anger."* God punished 
them by granting their request. 

Edward. We have only to read the history of 
Saul's reign, to realize what a judgment it was upon 
the nation. How happy in the time of Samuel, 
but how miserable under Saul. 

Jennie. The people, at first, were much pleased 
with their king ; he was so tall and good-looking. 

Edward. He did seem to give promise of being 
a wise sovereign. 

Susie. He was very prompt in rescuing the 
people of Jabesh-gilead. 

Jennie. But I think this is the only wise thing 
related of him. 

Mrs. S. It is said that the spirit of God came 
upon him ; but I think he resisted the divine influ- 
ence, and was given up to the power of the evil one. 

Edward. He seems to have been so under the 
influence of evil passions, that he was in a state of 
frenzy — a voluntary maniac. 

Mrs. S. Samuel was a faithful friend ; faithful 
in his reproofs. He assured him that a man after 
God's own heart should take his place on the throne. 

* Hos. 13: 11. 



l6o LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. This was David, the son of Jessie, who 
was the grandson of Ruth. 

Mrs. S. But I wish now to speak of Samuel. 
He lived at Ramah, a few miles from Gibeah, Saul's 
residence. He had here a school for the education 
of young men to be prophets. Samuel was the 
first of those who, after the time of Moses, were 
inspired to give to men a revelation from God. 

Jennie. A prophet means one who foretells 
future events — does it not ? 

Edward, I always thought this the meaning ; 
but in " Hebrew History," this definition is given : 
"A prophet is one who speaks for God, who is in com- 
munion with him, and bears his messages to men." 

Mrs. S. Thus he may give the history of the 
past, present or future ; or he may declare God's 
truth to man ; make known his will. 

Edward. A prophet, in Scripture, is called a 
"man of God," or a " teacher come from God." 

Susie. Prophets had power to work miracles. 

Mrs. S. They were inspired, and had power 
from God to perforin his work in whatever manner 
he saw fit to make known his will. A miracle gave 
immediate evidence that it was God's work, and 
not man's. 

Edward. The difference between a miracle and 
prophecy, I have seen thus stated : "A miracle is 
evidence by a fact, and prophecy by testimony." 

Mrs. S. In the establishment of both the 
Mosaic and Christian dispensations, the proof that 



CONVERSATION XVII. l6l 

the one as well as the other is from God, was by 
miracles ; while the fulfillment of prophecy is the 
evidence for all coming ages — an accumulating evi- 
dence. Samuel wrote the history of his own times, 
and probably that of the period of the Judges. 

Edward. His death was a short time before that 
of Saul. 

Mrs. S. David comes into notice eight years 
before the death of Saul, though his being privately 
annointed as king, was some years before this. 

Jennie. He was the youngest of Jesse's sons — 
the one who took care of the sheep. The shepherd 
boy was sent for, to be anointed king. 

Susie. He had great skill in playing on the harp. 

Edward. His killing Goliah first brought him 
into notice, though he was employed before this, to 
soothe the crazy king by his music. 

Jennie. He was at Bethlehem, taking care of 
his sheep, when his father sent him to carry pro- 
vision to his brothers in the army. 

Mrs. S. But I think we will not enter upon 
David's history until to-morrow evening. 



1 1 



CONVERSATION XVIII. 



DAVID AND GOLIATH. SAUL S PERSECUTION OF DA- 
VID. — saul's last days. — david's lamenta- 
tion. DAVID ON THE THRONE. DEATH 

OF UZZAH. REMOVAL OF THE ARK. 

CTUSIE. We left David just as he was going to 

[ the army. When he reached the encampment, 

he found the men of Israel in great consternation. 

Edward. You must think how the armies were 
situated ; the Philistines on one hill, and the 
Israelites on another opposite, with a valley between 
them. Goliath, the great champion of the Philis- 
tines, marching through the valley, defying the 
armies of Israel, and demanding a man to fight with 
him, and thus, by single combat, to end the war. 

Jennie. Goliath was at least ten feet high ; his 
coat of mail weighed two hundred pounds ; except 
his face, he was covered with brass, and a shield 
protected his face. I do not wonder that not a 
man dared to fight with him. 

Susie. But when David heard his profane boast- 
ing, he exclaimed : " Who is this uncircumcised 
Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the 
living God ? " 



CONVERSATION XVIII. 163 

Mrs. Selwyn, David was moved by a divine influ- 
ence, and though his brothers taunted him, and 
asked him where he had left his sheep, he declared 
that he would fight with this Philistine. 

Edward. Saul seems to have been willing to 
trust him, and so stripped off his armor and gave 
it to him. 

Mrs. S. But David will not take this ; his con- 
fidence is in God ; the victory will be from Him, 
and his own simple weapon — a sling and a stone — 
is all he needs. 

Edward. When Goliath sees an unarmed boy 
coming to fight with him, he cries out : " Am I a 
dog, that thou comest to me with staves ? " 

Jennie. I do not think he was careful to have 
his shield before his face, so David had a fair 
chance to strike the fatal blow. 

Mrs. S. This was of God, as well as the power 
to strike this blow. 

Edward. His death was made sure by his own 
sword, and thus the army of the Philistines was put 
to flight. 

Jennie. This wonderful victory caused great 
rejoicing, and David was the hero to whom the 
glory belonged, and to whom it was given. This 
appears in the song of the women, as the victorious 
army marched through the cities on their return : 
" Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten 
thousands." 

Mrs. S. But this very song stirred up the spirit 



164 , LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

of jealousy in the vain-glorious monarch : " They 
have ascribed to David tens of thousands, and to 
me but thousands ; and what can he have more 
but the kingdom ? " So from this time he plots the 
death of this youthful champion the deliverer of 
his country. 

Jennie. But his son Jonathan quite fell in love 
with David, for it says their souls were " knit 
together." 

Edward. They were both devoted to the serv- 
ice of God ; and this was the foundation of their 
friendship. 

Susie. Saul had promised his daughter in mar- 
riage to the man who would go against the Philis- 
tines, so he gave David his daughter Michal ; but 
when she became his wife, he required her to give 
David up to be killed. 

Jennie. But Michal outwitted him, putting 
David out of the window, and an image in the bed, 
so that her father's messengers found only an image 
to kill. 

Mrs. S. You will find, by reading from the 
eighteenth to the twenty-sixth chapters of the first 
book of Samuel, the various methods contrived by 
this wicked man to accomplish his malignant pur- 
pose. 

Edward. It is wonderful how David escaped ; 
but God protected him. 

Mrs. S. God was his " refuge and strength, a 
very present help in every time of trouble." 



CONVERSATION XVIII. 165 

Edward. He found it necessary to have a com- 
pany of men with him, as Saul pursued him with a 
body of troops ; and for these he must provide. 

Susie. This reminds me of Nabal, a rich man 
to whom he applied for provisions. It was at the 
time of sheep-shearing, which was a season of 
feasting ; but Nabal, in a tantalizing manner, 
replied : "Who is David? There be many servants 
nowadays that break away from their masters." 
Just as if he did not know the man who killed 
Goliath. 

Jennie. David was provoked, believing Nabal 
indebted to him for aid he had given to his shep- 
herds, and was about to compel the mean man to 
supply h ; s need, when Abigail, his wife, hearing of 
it, without asking her husband, sent him what he 
desired ; but this, I think, was the cause of Nabal's 
death. 

Susie. Abigail was beautiful, and had a " good 
understanding," and I think made David a good 
wife, for he married her. 

Edward. Saul was twice in David's power, he 
and all his guard being asleep ; but David would 
not suffer any one to do him harm, though Abishai 
was ready to put him to death. 

Susie. At one of the times, he cut off a piece 
of Saul's robe ; and at the other, took away his 
spear and a cruse of water. 

Edward. Then he went off some distance and 
called to Abner to take better care of his master, 



1 66 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

for that, but for his protection, the king would have 
lost his life. 

Mrs. S. Upon this, Saul roused himself, and 
said : u Is this thy voice, my son David ? " Then 
he confessed his wrong doings, blessed him, and 
promised never more to do him harm ; and I think 
he did not. 

Susie. This was four years before Saul's death, 
and about the time that Samuel died. 

Mrs. S. Samuel's death brought grief upon the 
whole nation : " All the Israelites were gathered 
togethered, and lamented him." They had indeed 
reason to mourn for him, for all his life had been 
devoted to their best interests. 

Jennie. They must have bitterly repented their 
rejection of him, for such a king as Saul proved to 
be. 

Edward. But no one in the nation was more 
wretched than Saul. The reason for this we can 
easily see. He lived only for his own pleasure ; 
and God has so formed us, that happiness can 
never be found by those who seek only their own 
gratification. Such persons may be ever in pursuit 
of the " summum bonum" but like the " ignis fatims" 
it ever flies from them. Excuse my Latin. 

Jennie. We excuse you, and guess what it means. 

Mrs. S. God has indeed given us such a nature, 
that it is only in seeking to bless others, we our- 
selves are blessed. Then there is another truth to 
be borne in mind. The things of earth can never 



CONVERSATION XVIII. 167 

satisfy the soul ; there is a void that nothing earthly 
can fill. God alone can satisfy the insatiate crav- 
ings of the immortal spirit. Saul, in his distress, 
had nothing, — even though he possessed a king- 
dom, — that could allay the wants of the soul. 
Samuel had been to him, in some sense, like God ; 
but Samuel was no more ; Saul was left to himself. 
What could he do ? In his agony, he sought relief 
from what he knew was a forbidden source — for he 
himself had formerly banished these emissaries of 
Satan : he sought a woman professing to have inter- 
course with spirits. He found one at Endor ; he 
desired her to bring up Samuel. In great fear of 
Saul, while it was the very Saul himself, she hesita- 
ted ; but when assured that no evil should come 
upon her, she began her incantations. Amazement, 
however, seized her ; for God really permitted the 
prophet to appear, and this she was not prepared 
for. Saul's doom he pronounced : to-morrow the 
wretched man should enter the world of spirits. 

Edward. To-morrow was the day of battle. 
The miserable king received a mortal wound, but 
his end was hastened by his own sword. 

Jennie. Jonathan was also among the slain ; 
dear, good Jonathan. 

Susie. And the lamentation of David — how 
affecting ! " How are the mighty fallen ! Tell it 
not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashke- 
lon ; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, 
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph." 



1 68 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

" How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the 
battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high 
places. I am distressed for thee, my brother 
Jonathan : very pleasant hast thou been unto me : 
thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of 
women. How are the mighty fallen, and the 
weapons of war perished ! " 

Mrs. S. Here we come to the end of David's 
state of humiliation. We shall next behold him in 
a state of exaltation ; but David, though he had 
been anointed king, takes no step in ascending the 
throne, but by divine direction. 

Susie. David was at Ziklag, but he went to 
Hebron as God directed, and was there anointed 
king over the tribe of Judah. 

Edward. But Abner, Saul's captain, — a crafty, 
ambitious man, — anointed Ishbosheth, a son of 
Saul, over the other tribes. 

Jennie. The result was a seven years' war 
between the house of Saul and the house of David, 
but carried on by the two captains — Abner and 
Joab. At the death of Ishbosheth, all united 
under David. 

Mrs. S. David's first public act was the choice 
of Jerusalem as his capitol. This city was still in 
the hands of the Jebusites, and strongly fortified ; 
but it was soon taken. Hiram, king of Tyre, aided 
David in building up the city and in erecting his 
palace. 

Edward. David's special design was to estab- 



CONVERSATION XVIII. 169 

lish here the worship of God. The tabernacle was 
at Gibeon, and the ark at Kirjath-jearim. David 
attempted to remove the ark to Jerusalem, but was 
prevented by the death of Uzzah. 

Susie. I remember this. Uzzah took hold of the 
ark to keep it steady, and for this was struck dead. 
It was then placed in the house of Obededom. 

Jennie. Was it not strange that a person should 
be struck dead for touching the ark ? 

Mrs. S. I will show you that it was what he 
deserved ; but, in doing this, I must explain two of 
the divine attributes — holiness and justice. They 
are distinct attributes ; but " the import of the one 
is shaded into that of the other."* Holiness is 
freedom from sin ; justice is opposition to sin. 
Opposition to sin indicates purity of character ; 
and the penalty inflicted upon the transgressor, 
shows the degree of opposition to the sin. Death, 
as the punishment for irreverence, indicates its 
guilt in the sight of God, and impresses the obliga- 
tion to obey his holy commands. The ark of the 
covenant was a symbol of the divine presence ; it 
must therefore be regarded with solemn awe, and 
no hand must touch it. This was well known ; and 
reverence would lead to obedience. Uzzah laid 
hold of the ark, and suffered the penalty. There 
was irreverence in the heart, and this led to diso- 
bedience in the act. 

Edward. We all thank you for making this sub- 

* Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation, page 81. 



170 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ject so plain. May it lead us to watch over our- 
selves, lest we take God's name in vain, by a 
thoughtless use of his word and the ordinances of 
his house. 

Mrs. S. There was an error in the manner of 
removing the ark. It was to be borne by staves 
passing through the rings at the corners, on the 
shoulders of Levites of the family of Kohath. 
You will find a description of the ark, Ex. 37 : 1-3, 
and directions for its removal, Num. 4 : 5, 6, 15. 

Susie. The ark was at the house of Obededom 
but three months. 

Edward. By the blessing upon Obededom, David 
was led again to attempt its removal to Jerusalem ; 
and he was careful to obey the laws. 

Mrs. S. The description of its removal is in 
II Sam. 6 : 12-23, an d I Chron. 15. 

Jennie. David had prepared a tent for it in 
Jerusalem. 

Mrs. S. On this occasion, the people assembled 
from all parts of the land. The priests and Levites 
were prepared for the service, with singers and 
players on instruments, while the ark, covered by 
the priests, was borne by the sons of Kohath. 

Jennie. I can seem to see this joyful throng, 
that, with shoutings and songs of thanksgiving, 
with the sound of cornets, trumpets and harps, 
march onward, keeping time with the music. 

Susie. I think the king was the leader in this 
grand procession, and that he was full of joy ; but 



CONVERSATION XVIII. 171 

when his wife Michal saw him dancing and playing 
the harp, " she despised him in her heart." 

Mrs. S. Keeping time with the music was 
termed dancing, and common as a religious exer- 
cise on joyful occasions. But Michal had no 
sympathy with her husband's holy joy, expressed 
by this poetry of motion, and these songs of praise ; 
she thought only of the vain fellows who, as in our 
day, sing and dance for amusement. What a con- 
trast between these midnight circles for pleasure, 
and the exercises of this joyful throng. 

Susie. Having entered the city, while the full 
chorus sing, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be 
ye lifted up ye everlasting doors, and the King of 
Glory shall come in," the ark is borne to its place 
within the curtains. Then follow the burnt offer- 
ings, peace offerings, and gifts to the people by the 
pious king ; and then as a prophet, pronouncing a 
blessing upon them. 

Jennie. With this heavenly spirit, he returns to 
his home "to bless his household;" but what a 
reception ! Listen to Michal, with her contemptu- 
ous revilings : "How glorious was the king of 
Israel to-day, who uncovered himself as one of the 
vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself." I 
think he gave her just the answer she deserved, 
when he replied : "It was before the Lord, which 
chose me before thy father, and before all his 
house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the 
Lord, over Israel." 



172 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. A psalm of thanksgiving in I Chron. 
16, was probably sung on this occasion. It gives 
expression to the feelings of the pious king, and 
would impress the people with the marvelous loving 
kindness of the God of Israel ; then calling upon 
all the inhabitants of the earth, with all created 
things, to unite in His praise, it closes with the 
ascription : " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 
forever and ever ; " all the people swelling the loud 
amen. 



CONVERSATION XIX. 



DAVID A KING, A POET AND A PROPHET. PROPHE- 
CIES OF CHRIST AND THE FULFILLMENT. 

AUTHORS OF THE PSALMS. DAVID'S GREAT 

DESIRE. THE COMING AND KINGDOM 

OF CHRIST. 

1T7TRS. SELWYN. David in his state of exalta- 
* y tion as well as humiliation, was a type of 
Christ. He triumphed over all his enemies, and 
his dominion was from the Euphrates to the Medi- 
terranean. 

Edward. He was the sweet Psalmist of Israel. 
He lived earlier than any Grecian poet ; for Homer 
was not born until after the death of Solomon. In 
enlightened nations, his Psalms are more universally 
esteemed than the poems of any other author. 

Mrs. S. David was a poet and a king ; he was 
also a prophet. While in beauty and sublimity he 
is unsurpassed, his devout thoughts fill the soul 
with holy aspirations ; and he so fully expresses the 
feelings of the Christian, that these inspired songs 
are sung wherever the gospel is proclaimed. To 
him it was revealed that the Messiah should be of 
his seed, and yet the Lord from heaven. 



174 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. In some places Christ is plainly fore- 
told ; then in others, feelings are expressed and 
circumstances related as if the experience of David, 
which in the Gospels are quoted as prophecies of 
Christ ; proving, I think, that David was a type of 
Christ, both in his sufferings and in his triumphs. 
In the second Psalm is a prophecy of the kingdom 
of Christ. The opposition of men, even of the 
kings of the earth, against the Lord, and against 
His Anointed is declared, and that this opposition 
shall be in vain ; Christ shall be exalted, and the 
nations " dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel." 
" Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of 
Zion." " I will declare the decree ; the Lord hath 
said unto me ; Thou art my son, this day have I 
begotten thee." This passage is referred to by 
Paul — Acts 13 : ^ — as fulfilled when Christ rose 
from the dead. Paul also gives Ps. 16 : 10, to show 
that Jesus is thus proved to be the promised Mes- 
siah ; and so does Peter in his sermon on the day 
of Pentecost, Acts 2:31. The passage is : " For 
thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt 
thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." 
David foreseeing the exaltation of this promised 
One, his son according to the flesh, declares : "The 
Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand 
until I make thine enemies thy footstool."* This is 
quoted by our Saviour as referring to himself, as 
David's son and David's Lord ; and Peter refers to 

* Ps. no : 1. 



CONVERSATION XIX. 175 

it to convince the Jews that they have crucified 
their own Messiah. Paul also shows, Heb. 5:5, 
that this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, in that he is 
forever both King and Priest ; quoting from Ps. 
no : 4. "Thou art a Priest forever after the order 
of Melchizedek. ,, But I have quite forgotten that I 
am a learner, and have given you a sermon. Please 
excuse me, mother. 

Mrs. S. You need make no excuse my son ; I 
rejoice that you have looked into this important 
subject, and see so clearly how these prophecies 
are fulfilled in Christ. You may now turn to Ps. 
22 ; and there we shall find our Saviour's sufferings 
foretold, while related as the experience of David. 
In verses seventh and eighth is the derision of his 
enemies : " All they that see me laugh me to scorn ; 
they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying ; 
he trusted in the Lord that he would deliver him ; 
let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." 
Now you may in the Gospels find the fulfillment. 

Susie. In Mat. 27 : $?» I nn d the very words : 
" He trusted in God ; let him deliver him now, if 
he will have him." Then the derision of the sol- 
diers, verse 28-^1 is described ; the putting on him 
of the purple robe, crowning him with thorns, bow- 
ing the knee in mockery, spitting upon him, and 
smiting him on the head. 

Jennie. In Mark 15 : 29, it says : "They that 
passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and 
saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple and 



1^6 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come 
down from the cross. 

Edward. In verse sixteenth ; " They pierced my 
hands and my feet ; " the death of our Saviour by 
crucifixion is described. " They part my garments 
among them, and cast lots upon my vesture," de- 
scribes just what the soldiers did. 

Jennie. Yes, in John 19 : 23, 24, it says, that 
the soldiers made four parts of his garments, to 
every soldier a part ; but of the coat they said, 
" Let us cast lots for it whose it shall be ; and it 
refers to this prophecy as being thus fulfilled. 

Mrs. S. You may turn now to Ps. 69. This 
clause of the ninth verse : " For the zeal of thine 
house hath eaten me up ; " is quoted in John 2:17 
as being fulfilled when Christ drove out of the tem- 
ple those that sold oxen, sheep and doves, and the 
changers of money ; as he thus exhibited a consum- 
ing zeal for the honor of God, and the purity of his 
worship. 

Edward. Mark 15 : 30 "And they all forsook 
him and fled," is a fulfillment of verse twentieth of 
this Psalm ; " I looked for comforters but I found 
none." Even John, in the high priest's palace, 
dared not comfort him, and Peter denied him there. 

Susie.' Each of the four Evangelists gives the 
fulfillment of the next prediction : " They gave me 
also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave 
me vinegar to drink.* 

* Matt. 27 : 34-48. Mark 15 : 23-36. Luke 23 : 36. John 19 : 29. 



CONVERSATION XIX. 177 

Mrs. S. Ps. 22 : i, " My God, my God, why 
hast thou forsaken me," is the exclamation of our 
Saviour on the cross; " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" 
It was the language of David when feeling forsaken 
of God, and he thus represents the suffering Sa- 
viour. 

Jen/iie. Is the treachery of Judas foretold ? 

Mrs. S. In the rebellion of Absolom, Ahitho- 
phel, David's friend and counsellor, became a 
traitor to him ; and the denunciations upon him, 
are pronounced upon Judas ; since the traitor to 
David, was a type of the traitor to Christ. Hence 
the quotation from Ps. 69 : 25 and 109 : 8, in Acts 
1 : 20, "" Let his habitation be desolate, and his 
bishopric " — office — " let another take," 

Jennie. Thank you, mother, for this explanation. 

Mrs. S. Of David it is declared that his throne 
or dominion should endure forever ; and this is 
fulfilled in Christ, who, according to the flesh, was 
David's son. 

Jennie. I have often wondered how it could be 
true, that David should never " want a son to sit 
upon his throne ; " when at the present day his 
posterity are unknown, and centuries have passed 
since the sceptre departed from Judah ; but I see it 
now — Christ is, and ever will be King in Zion, and 
thus the throne of David endures for ever. 

Mrs. S. Bishop Home says of the Psalms : 
" They are an epitome of the Bible, adapted to the 
purposes of devotion. In them we find religion 

12 



178 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

presented in its most engaging dress ; the graces of 
poetry and the charms of music consecrated to the 
service of God." Thus " delight may prepare the 
way for improvement, and pleasure become the 
handmaid of religion, while every turbulent passion 
is calmed by sacred melody, and the evil spirit is 
still dispossessed by the harp of the son of Jesse." 
" Here is history, portraying the blessings experi- 
enced by the people of God ; and prophecy unfold- 
ing the future glories of the Redeemer's kingdom." 
In reading these divine oracles, we should review 
the history to which the Psalmist calls our atten- 
tion : and search for the fulfillment of the prophe- 
cies which God was pleased to reveal to his believing 
servant. 

Edward. We should also, I think, when reading 
his denunciations against his enemies, keep in mind 
that this language is used to express the divine 
condemnation of sin, and the judgments God would 
visit upon the wicked ; and not from a spirit of 
revenge in the Psalmist. 

Jamie. David expresses his feelings so fully, 
that we can look into his very heart. 

Edward. His soul was also so entirely under a 
divine influence, that he spoke in " strains sweet as 
angels use," the very language of heaven. 

Mrs. S. I think we lose much by not being 
familiar with his history, the scenes of joy or sorrow 
which so deeply affected his soul. 

Edward. I am always glad when the occasion 
for writing the Psalms is given. 



CONVERSATION XIX. 179 

Jennie. Did David write all the Psalms ? 

Edward. His name is prefixed to only about 
half of them ; but he probably wrote many more 
than this. 

Mrs. S. Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the 
chief singers in the temple worship in the time of 
David, wrote quite a number. The ninetieth, you 
know, is a prayer of Moses ; three were written for 
Solomon, or by him ; and some it is evident were 
composed after the captivity. 

Susie. David wrote the twenty-third, though I 
do not know at what time ; yet it always makes me 
think of the shepherd boy, with his harp bringing 
forth sweet music, and singing the beautiful words : 
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." 

Mrs. S. David's great desire was to build a 
house for God. 

Edward. But God denied him this privilege, 
and the reason given for this is, that he had been a 
man of war, and had shed much blood. 

Jennie. Does this imply that he had done wrong 
in pursuing this course ? 

Mrs. S. No, Jennie — David's special work was 
to subdue those nations that sought the destruction 
of God's people, and Solomon was raised up for 
another great purpose ; the preparing of a temple for 
the Lord of Hosts. David was a type of Christ, in 
his triumph over the powers of darkness ; Solomon 
a type of Christ, as the Prince of Peace. 

Susie. David, chough the man after God's own 
heart, fell into sin. 



l8o LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. For this he deeply repented, showing 
his abhorrence of himself and his sin. This is 
evident from the Psalm in which he lays open his 
heart. Ps. 51. 

Edward. David received divine forgiveness, 
though visited with sore chastisement, as in the 
rebellion of his favorite son Absalom. 2 Sam. 
15-18. 

Mrs. S. David was very happy in his son Solo- 
mon ; and happy in being permitted to prepare for 
the house he would build for God. 

Jennie. And what a wonderful preparation : 
" Iron and brass, precious stones and marble stones, 
silver and gold," he says, I have prepared with all 
my might ; and above all this, he gives ten thou- 
sand talents of gold, and seven thousand of silver. 
Edward. A talent in weight was one hundred 
and twenty-five pounds. 

Susie. "I give this," he says, because iC I have 
set my affection on the house of my God ; " and 
then he asks : " Who is willing this day to conse- 
crate his service unto the Lord ? " 

Edward. This appeal was made to the leading 
men of the nation ; and what an offering it brought 
forth ; five thousand talents of gold, ten thousand 
of silver, eighteen thousand of brass, one hundred 
thousand of iron, and an abundance of precious 
stones. And all this was a " willing offering." 
What an example to Christians of the present day. 
Mrs. S. The seventy-second Psalm is a prayer 
of David for Solomon. 



CONVERSATION XIX. l8l 

Jennie. It seems to be among David's last words, 
for in closing he says : " The prayers of David the 
son of Jesse are ended." 

Mrs. S. The last petition for his youthful son, 
now the sovereign of this great people, is : " Give to 
the King thy judgments, O God, and thy righteous- 
ness to the King's son" — may he understand thy 
statutes and with righteousness govern this nation. 

Edward. He asks with the full belief that his 
prayer will be heard and answered. 

Susie. So that the Psalm seems a description of 
his reign, rather than a prayer. 

Jennie. A description, I should think, of the 
kingdom of Christ ; though it may refer to both. 

Mrs. S. Yes, David, by the power of the Holy 
Ghost, has a view of the righteousness, peace and 
glory of Solomon's reign ; and he also beholds the 
more glorious reign of the promised Messiah — his son 
and his Lord — the whole earth filled with his glory. 

Jennie. Mother, in verse fifteenth it says: " Pray- 
er shall be made for him continually." Does this 
mean for Solomon or for Christ ? 

Mrs. S. For the coming of Christ, I think. 
For four thousand years, those who by faith beheld 
the promised Messiah, prayed that his coming might 
be hastened. 

Edward. " Prophets and kings desired it long, 
but died without the sight." 

Susie. In the fullness of time he came, and 
completed the scheme of redemption. 



1 82 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie, And when he ascended to heaven, two 
shining ones assured the sorrowful disciples, that he 
would come again in the manner they had seen him 
depart. 

Mrs. S. Christ's second coming, as well as the 
first, is the theme of the prophets ; for from Gene- 
sis to Revelation, the types, the promises, and the 
prophecies, point to a church redeemed out of every 
nation. 

Edward. And this is still in the future. 

Mrs. S. But the first coming gives full assur- 
ance of his second coming ; and for this we should 
pray, and seek to be in readiness. 

Edward. Our Saviour declares, that this gospel 
of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world 
for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end 
come ; and he commands : " Go ye into all the 
world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 

Mrs. S. And to pray — " Thy kingdom come, 
thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven." 

Edward. Here I am reminded of a sermon I 
have been reading — a sermon from this text : " Let 
the whole earth be filled with his glory." Ps. 72: 19. 
It was preached by Rev. Dr. Wilson at the opening 
of the General Assembly, 1876. " The spirit of the 
gospel is the spirit of missions," is the leading 
thought. Dr. Wilson shows that the spirit of mis- 
sions is a badge of the true church ; and this he 
proves in the first place by a reference to Old Tes- 
tament worthies ; as Abel, Enoch, Abraham, and 



CONVERSATION XIX. 183 

other covenant people of God. The spirit of proph- 
ecy he shews to be the spirit of missions ; and the 
key-note of prophecy, " Victory through an incar- 
nate Redeemer." A type, he says, is "an embodied 
prophecy, and carries with it the same sublime les- 
son." We must read the whole sermon together. 



CONVERSATION XX. 



events showing the progress of redemption. 

solomon. the temple. queen of sheba. 

Solomon's departure from god. — 

Solomon's writing's. — the mosaic 

church. tyrian history. 

JENNIE. We are happy to spend this evening 
with the wisest man. 

Susie. We have been reading to-day in Edwards' 
History of Redemption. Dr. Edwards considers 
events promoting the kingdom of God, as steps in 
the progress of redemption ; " the turning of the 
wheel of Providence toward the completion of this 
glorious scheme." He enumerates nine such steps 
in the life of David. If you please I will read 
them. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Yes, my daughter, we shall be 
pleased to hear them. [Susie reads] : 

Susie. " The person from whom Christ is to 
descend, divinely anointed. The written word of 
God enlarged by Samuel. David inspired to show 
forth Christ and his redemption by divine songs. 
David's wonderful preservation during his persecu- 
tion by Saul. God's exalting David to the throne 



CONVERSATION XX. 1 55 

of Israel. A city divinely chosen, in which to 
establish God's name and worship. The covenant 
renewed to David, and Christ promised from his 
seed. God's giving by David the whole promised 
land to Israel. David's commission to improve the 
method of worship." 

Edward. I think Solomon's being enabled to 
ascend the throne amid all the opposition made to 
it, was another turn of the wheel toward this great 
consummation. 

Jennie. This is just what Dr. Edwards says. 

Susie. And the building of the temple was an- 
other. 

Mrs. S. This was indeed a very important step 
in this progress. 

Edward. The opposition to Solomon was very 
formidable. Adonijah was now the eldest son ; 
Joab the veteran commander and Abiathar the 
high priest, were both on his side — the one believed 
to have power over men, and the other power with 
God. 

Jennie. But God was on Solomon's side ; and 
he therefore could not but prevail. 

Susie. Solomon's wise choice gives me great in- 
terest in him. 

Jennie. He showed wisdom in choosing wisdom ; 
but he ought to have asked to be kept from trust- 
ing in himself, instead of trusting in God. 

Edward. God also gave Solomon riches, and 
" largeness of heart as the sand upon the seashore." 



l86 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

He had a great work to perform, and a great peo- 
ple to govern ; and he was furnished with the 
means for its performance. By his alliance with 
the king of Tyre, he obtained skillful workmen, as 
well an abundance of cedar wood and marble, and 
the means of transporting treasures from distant 
regions. 

Susie. Tyre and Sidon were famous seaports on 
the Mediterranean in Phenicia. 

Edward. The ships of Tyre were the first that 
ever spread their sails upon the sea, and the Pheni- 
cians the first people who understood the art of 
navigation. 

Mrs. S. The Tyrians were idolators, but their 
wealth and skill, by this alliance with Solomon, 
were employed in the service of God. 

Jennie. The foundations of the temple were laid 
in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, and he was 
seven years in building it. 

Edward. The temple was built like the taber- 
nacle, after the pattern given to Moses in the mount, 
having two rooms, the holy place, and the holy of 
holies. 

Mrs. S. It was not distinguished for its size, 
but for its surpassing beauty ; and yet all the parts 
covered a large space. The distance around the 
outer court was half a mile. This was the court of 
the Gentiles. The temple stood upon Mount Mo- 
riah, upon the spot marked out by God by his 
acceptance of David's sacrifice — the threshing-floor 






CONVERSATION XX. 187 

of Araunah — thus causing the pestilence to cease. 
Its front was to the east. The entrance to the 
court of the Gentiles on this side, was called Solo- 
mon's porch. This was on a terrace raised four 
hundred feet from the valley below, to make the 
space required. 

Edward. The next court was that of the Israel- 
ites, divided into two parts, the one for the men, 
the other for the women. The gate Beautiful was 
the passage from the court of the Gentiles to the 
court of the women. Within the court of the 
Israelites was the court of the priests, in which 
were the brazen altar, ten layers and the molten 
sea. 

Jennie. The brazen altar was twenty cubits 
square and ten in height, the ascent by an inclined 
plane. It was directly in front of the temple. 

Mrs. S. These courts are spoken of as parts of 
the temple ; as when Jesus drove out those that 
sold and bought from the temple ; it was from the 
court of the Gentiles. 

Edward. The building was seventy cubits in 
length, twenty in width, and thirty in height, and 
thus divided : the holy of holies twenty, the holy 
place forty, the porch ten. The height of the 
porch was one hundred and twenty cubits. 

Susie. There were chambers all around the 
building except in front, three stories of them, each 
five cubits ; the narrow windows being above them. 
They were rooms for the priests and for other pur- 
poses. 



155 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. The courts were paved with marble 
beautifully variegated. 

Edward. From the court of the Gentiles was an 
ascent, and at the entrance twelve steps, the tem- 
ple being the highest spot. 

Susie. In the holy place was the golden table for 
show-bread on one side, the golden candlestick on 
the other side, and the golden altar for incense in 
the centre of the west end. 

Edward. In the holy of holies was only the ark 
of the covenant ; its cover the mercy seat, on which 
were the two golden cherubim, their wings stretch- 
ing from one side of the room to the other. Here 
the divine glory appeared. 

Jennie. All the materials were prepared before 
being brought to Jerusalem, so that there was no 
sound of a tool in putting the parts together. 

Edward. This reminds me of Bishop Heber's 
beautiful lines : 

" No hammer fell, no ponderous axes rung ; 
Like some tall palm, the mystic fabric sprung." 

The building was of white marble, polished, the 
stones so nicely fitted as to have the appearance of 
one stone ; and so abundantly decorated with gold 
and gems as to be dazzling to the sight. Within it 
was completely overlaid with gold, and adorned 
with precious stones ; a more splendid edifice never 
met the eye of man. 

Mrs. S. Its dedication was a memorable scene ; 
the vast assembly, the youthful sovereign on his 



CONVERSATION XX. 189 

knees pouring out his soul to God, the fire from 
heaven consuming the sacrifices upon the altar, and 
the house filled with the glory of the Lord ; thus 
signifying the Divine acceptance of the gift. 

Susie. At the close of his prayer, he pronounced 
a blessing upon his people. 

Jennie. Then came a feast of thanksgiving for 
twice seven days ; the peace offerings presented by 
this large-hearted king, two and twenty thousand 
oxen, and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. 

Edward. God again appeared to Solomon, as- 
suring him that the promises made to his father 
should be fulfilled, if, like him, he held fast to the 
divine commands ; but threatening fearful judg- 
ments if disobedient. 

Mrs. S. He seems to have little regarded these 
threatenings. Absorbed in great schemes, and lift- 
ed up with his own glory, he forsakes God and 
violates one command after another, until he pur- 
sues a course that would once have caused him to 
shudder. 

Edward. It was when at the height of his glory, 
that he was visited by the Queen of Sheba. She is 
thought to have come from the southern part of 
Arabia near the Red Sea. Solomon's navy may 
have touched at some port in her dominions, and 
thus she had heard of his greatness. 

Susie. But when she beheld the order of his 
house, and the magnificence of his buildings, she 
said the half had not been told her. She was 



190 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

charmed with his beautiful works, but especially 
with his wisdom ; for he could answer all her 
questions. 

Jennie. But the ascent to the house of the Lord 
she thought the most wonderful. Please tell me 
what there was so remarkable about that. 

Edward. The temple you know, Jennie, was on 
Mount Moriah, and Solomon's palace on Mount 
Zion. Over the valley between them, Solomon had 
made a bridge, or what railroad men would call a 
viaduct, from one hill to the other. 

Mrs. S. This was a wonderful work of art. 
The distance between the hills was three hundred 
and fifty feet, and the Tyropean valley so deep as 
to seem like a chasm. The bridge was upon arches 
of hewn stone supported by piers from beneath. 
Dr. Robinson states that this was indicated by stones 
that he found protruding from Mount Moriah. 
This bridge extended from the court of the temple 
to a covered colonnade on Mount Zion leading to 
the palace. 

Jennie. I do not wonder the Queen was so over- 
come in surveying this work of art. 

Mrs. S. Solomon's great sin was his taking 
wives from the nations forbidden by God ; and his 
wives turned away his heart after other gods — the 
foul sin of idolatry. 

Edward. I suppose he thought he could resist 
the temptation, even of an idolatrous wife. 

Susie. Just like those who think they can be 
good Christians, while conforming to the world. 



CONVERSATION XX. 191 

Mrs. S. But giving up one's self to forbidden 
pleasures, is like venturing within the circling 
eddies of a whirlpool. Round and round one is 
borne with increasing velocity, until comes the 
deadly vortex — the fatal plunge ! A miracle of 
grace it is, that any devotee of pleasure is ever 
saved. 

Edward. The book of Ecclesiastes gives reason 
to hope that Solomon saw the evil of his way, and 
turned to God ; but he expresses little hope for 
himself. 

Mrs. S. God had promised David that he would 
not take his mercy from this son, as he did from Saul ; 
and I think that by divine grace he repented and 
was forgiven. 

Edward. Solomon's method of expressing his 
thoughts is very impressive. The proverb is of two 
parts, the same idea twice repeated : as, " Pride 
goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit be- 
fore a fall ; " or the one expresses the opposite of 
the other ; as '* The wicked flee when no man pur- 
sueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion." The 
figures are also clear and forcible ; for instance : 
" As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of 
man to man." 

Jennie. The Song of Solomon contains some 
curious comparisons, but some objects of great 
beauty are brought into view ; as well watered gar- 
dens, crystal streams, gushing fountains, while the 
singing of birds and the voice of the turtle enliven 
the scene. 



192 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. It is a dramatic poem, and should have 
been thus written. This song is an allegory, and 
prophetic of Him who is to the believer, the Chief 
among ten thousand, and One altogether lovely. It 
is designed to illustrate the union between the di- 
vine Redeemer and his believing people, under the 
figure of the marriage relation. God is pleased 
thus to symbolize this union, and in no other way 
could so clear an idea be conveyed of the privileges 
those enjoy who accept the offerings of his grace. 

Edward. This period must have been that of 
Israel's greatest glory, for all the neighboring na- 
tions were either in alliance with Solomon, or under 
his dominion. 

Jennie. And in wealth this land stood first, for 
gold was abundant, and silver as plenty as stones. 

Mrs. S. The Mosaic Church was also at its 
height. A house for the worship of God, and in 
which he was pleased to manifest his glory, was an 
important step in the progress of redemption. It 
was a type of Christ, and of the church purchased 
by his blood. 

Susie. When anything is at its height it begins 
to go down ; and this was the case with the Jewish 
nation after Solomon. 

Mrs. S. And this was also true of the church ; 
for when Christ came, she was like the moon in con- 
junction with the sun, scarcely visible ; thus illus- 
trating how inferior the dispensation of law to that 
of the gospel — the one a shadow, the other sub- 



CONVERSATION XX. 193 

stance. Of John the Baptist, the last representa- 
tive of the Mosaic church, Jesus says : " He that 
is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than 
- he." 

Edward. In speaking of Jesus, John says : " He 
must increase, but I must decrease." He feels 
that he knows but little, though he is the herald of 
of Him who is to be the Light of the world. 

Mrs. S. Yes, he feels this, but he was the great- 
est of the Old Testament saints, because he saw most 
clearly the glory of Christ, and of the kingdom of 
heaven or gospel dispensation. 

Edward. The reign of Solomon was midway 
between Abraham and Christ, so that we may call 
it the noon, as well as full moon. 

Susie. Speaking of Old Testament worthies, 
reminds me of Stephen's sermon, and also of some 
remarks in the New York Evangelist, showing how 
he preached the gospel from the history of the peo- 
ple of God in giving Abraham, Joseph, Moses and 
the prophets as agents to receive, publish and trans- 
mit God's great covenant promises to man : all 
being now fulfilled in Christ. 

Jennie. Now, mother, there is a question I must 
ask before we leave Solomon. Do we find any- 
thing in profane history, like these records of Tyre 
in the Bible ? Is Solomon spoken of by any of 
these historians ? 

Mrs. S. In Rawlinson's Historic Evidences, 
page 306, you will find the testimony of Josephus 
13 



194 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

in regard to two Phenician historians, Dius and 
Menander ; and you can also read the statements 
of Josephus. These historians both speak of Solo- 
mon, king of Jerusalem, as distinguished for his 
wisdom, and give Hiram as king of Tyre at the 
same time. They say that Solomon would send 
problems to Hiram to solve, and request Hiram to 
send problems to him, and that the one who failed 
in solving them must pay a forfeit. 

Edward. Here Dius says, Hiram could not solve 
them, but that one Abdemon could solve Solomon's 
riddles, while Solomon could not always solve his. 
So much for Tyrian vanity. 

Mrs. S. But our object is to find evidence that 
Tyrian history corroborates that of the Bible, and 
this, you perceive, is proved by their testimony. 
Menander also says, that Hiram gave his daughter 
in marriage to Solomon, and in I. Kings n : i, 
among his strange wives, Zidonians are mentioned. 
Tyre and Zidon were probably under the same king. 
Tyre, in Isaiah 23 : 12, is called the daughter of 
Zidon, and it is evident that Zidon was distinguished 
before Tyre was known. 

Edward. Dius says also, that Hiram aided Sol- 
omon in building the temple, giving him gold and 
silver from Libanus ; and that Solomon gave him 
in return a country in Galilee. This corresponds 
with the Bible account. In I. Kings 9 : 13, it is 
said that Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in Gal- 
ilee, but that he was not pleased with them. 



CONVERSATION XX. 195 

Mrs. S. Thus Jennie your question has brought 
out some interesting facts. And now, my children, 
for this evening we must close. 



CONVERSATION XXI. 



DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM. THE PROPHET FROM 

JUDAH. CHARACTER OF THE TWO KINGDOMS. 

WORSHIP OF BAAL. ASA AND HIS DE- 
LIVERANCE. JEHOSHAPHAT AND 

HIS DELIVERANCE. 

CTUSIE. Solomon was no sooner in the tomb, 
'X than there was a great change in the land of 
Israel. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Yes, an unlooked for change ; and 
yet just in accordance with the threatening God 
had given to Solomon. He was disobedient, and 
this penalty was executed ; "As thou hast not kept 
my covenant, I will surly rend the kingdom from thee 
and give it to thy servant." In this threatening there 
was a merciful provision. "In thy days I will not 
do it ;" and a promise was added ; "I will not rend 
away all the kingdom, but will give one tribe to thy 
son ; — not for thy sake — "for David thy father's 
sake," "and for Jerusalem's sake which I have 
chosen." 

Jennie. And the change was brought about by 
the voluntary act of his son. 



CONVERSATION XXI. 197 

Susie. Yes, when the people asked that he 
would make their yoke lighter than their father had 
done ; he answered them as his young companions 
advised him : " I will make it heavier ; my father 
chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you 
with scorpions ; " — something that had prickles I 
suppose. 

Edward. What a provoking answer. He might 
have known it would stir up a rebellion. Reho- 
boam spoke as he felt, but it led to the judgment 
which God had threatened. The only wonder is, 
that any were willing to come under the power of 
such a tyrant. But Judah was true to the house of 
David, and little Benjamin, not large enough to be 
called a tribe, nestled under his protecting wings. 

Jennie. What a fulfillment of prophecy : " The 
Lord shall cover him all day long, and he shall 
dwell between his shoulders." From this time Ju- 
dah and Benjamin are as one tribe, and continue to 
worship the true God. 

Susie. But ten tribes immediately revolt, and 
choose Jeroboam for their king. This was just 
what the prophet Ahijah had foretold, when he 
tore Jeroboam's robe into twelve pieces, and gave 
him ten. 

Jennie. But, mother, how was it with the Le- 
vites ? Which division did they join ? 

Mrs. S. You will find, II. Chron. n : 13, that 
the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions, 
and came to Judah and Jerusalem. In the twelfth 



198 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

verse it says' "The priests and Levites resorted to 
Rehoboam out of all their coasts ; " also others that 
were true to the God of Israel. 

Jennie. Jeroboam was an Israelite, but what a 
strange religion he established — the worship of the 
two golden calves. 

Edward. Jeroboam had been in Egypt, and he 
got his religious ideas in that country. 

Mrs. S. Jeroboam pretended to represent God 
by this calf worship ; and he had two — the one in 
the north, and the other in the south — to accommo- 
date the people. The reason he gave for pursuing 
this course was : that if the people went to Jerusa- 
lem to worship, they would soon return to the house 
of David — worldly policy an excuse for idolatry — 
but he is ever condemned for having "made Israel 
to sin." 

Susie. His priests were not of the tribe of Levi, 
but of the lower orders of the people. He had no 
regard for the law of God. 

Mrs. S. The removal to Judah of the priests 
and Levites, shows that they would not join in this 
idolatrous worship. How sad this departure from 
God, but I suppose there was always a hidden 
church of true believers among them — a few who 
went up to Jerusalem to worship. 

Edward. Rehoboam was forbidden to make war 
against Jeroboam, but a prophet was sent from 
Judah to reprove him for his great sin, and to warn 
him of impending judgments. He found the king 



CONVERSATION XXI. I99 

at Bethel offering a sacrifice to his calf. He cried 
against the altar, and declared that in future time, 
a man, Josiah by name, of the house of Judah, 
should on this altar burn the bones of the priests 
who had here offered incense. As a sign of the 
truth of this prophecy he said : " This altar shall be 
rent, and the ashes that are upon it, shall be poured 
out." 

Susie. Upon this Jeroboam was enraged, and 
stretched out his hand to seize the prophet, but it 
was instantly withered ; and at the same time, the 
altar was rent, and the ashes poured out. 

Jennie. I should think this might have led him 
to repent of his sin. 

Susie. It seemed at first to affect him, for he 
begged the prophet to pray for him ; but not, how- 
ever, to his calf, I imagine. 

Edward. No, for I think he wanted his arm 
cured. The prophet did pray, and his arm was re- 
stored. He then seemed thankful, and wished the 
prophet to go with him and take refreshment. 

Jennie. But his repentance did not last, for "he 
turned not from his evil way." 

Edward. The prophet told the king, that if he 
would give him half of his house, he could not go 
with him, for the Lord had commanded him not to 
eat bread nor drink water in the place. 

Susie. And yet after all, this good man was en- 
snared by a person who pretended to be a prophet 
of God. This man told him, that he had been di- 



200 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

rected by an angel to invite him to take some food. 
This was a lying prophet, pretending to serve God 
while conforming to idolatrous customs. 

Jennie. And the disobedient prophet was slain 
by a lion soon after he left the house. 

Mrs. S. We learn from this narrative how un- 
safe to listen to one who professes to serve God, 
while absorbed with the things of the world. The 
fulfillment of the prophecy which this man of God 
uttered, you will find in II. Kings 23 : 15-18. Good 
King Josiah was the person who thus showed his 
abhorrence of idolatry. 

Edward. I have here been looking at dates. Sol- 
omon began to reign 1015 B. C. His death and the 
revolt of the ten tribes was 975 B. C. The captivity 
of the ten tribes by the Assyrians was 721 B. C., 
making the duration of the kingdom two hundred 
and fifty-four years. 

Jennie. There were nineteen kings during this 
time, and every one did evil in the sight of the 
Lord. 

Edward. Ahab was, I believe the most wicked 
of these kings ; Jezebel his wife leading him on to 
deeds of darkness. Women when bad are, I be- 
lieve, worse than men ; though Ahab seemed will- 
ing to carry out her evil purposes. 

Susie. This is generally the case. Let women 
lead, and she never lacks men for followers, how- 
ever dark and crooked may be her ways. This in- 
fluence was plainly seen before the flood ; it was 
the daughters of men that made the earth corrupt. 



CONVERSATION XXI. 201 

Edward. But when woman is good, she is better 
than man ; and if that be so, she will be a real help 
meet, and keep him from getting off the track. I 
hope I shall find a good leader. 

Jennie. Who was this Jezebel ? 

Edward. She was a king's daughter, a cousin I 
presume of Queen Dido, the heroine immortalized 
by the poet Virgil. Her father was Ethbaal the 
king of Zidon. 

Mrs. S. Jezebel introduced into Israel the wor- 
ship of Baal and Ashtaroth. Baal or Bel was the 
male deity, and Ashtaroth or Astarte the female. 
This was a very corrupt kind of idolatry. Human 
victims were sacrificed to Baal, and licentiousness 
especially pleasing to the goddess. She was wor- 
shipped in groves, but Baal in temples ; and one 
was erected in Samaria. On Phenecian and Car- 
thagenian coins images of Baal may now be seen. 
One that I have seen has a man upon it with three 
heads, a forked sceptre in the left hand, and a ser- 
pent coiled round his waist. 

Edward. I have been thinking what a difference 
in the character of these two divisions of the Israel- 
itish nation. In the little kingdom of Judah was 
Jerusalem, the city of God, and here the tem- 
ple dedicated to his worship. There were some 
eminently pious kings. Asa the third sovereign, 
and Jehoshaphat his son, did that which was right 
in the sight of God, like David. Asa began by de- 
stroying idols, and all idolatrous places of worship. 



202 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. He began just right ; giving the people to 
understand there is no God but God alone, and he 
only must receive their worship. 

Edward. He also fortified his little kingdom, 
only about fifty miles in length and breadth. He 
built many walled cities, and raised an army of half 
a million. 

Mrs. S. Then came a terrible invasion. Some 
might wonder that this God-fearing people should 
be visited with such a calamity, but God saw fit to 
show to the world, how safe are those that put their 
trust in him. 

Edward. Zerah, king of Ethiopia, made this in- 
vasion. Flushed with his triumphs over other 
countries, he entered the little kingdom of Judah, 
with an army of one million, and three hundred 
chariots. He halted at Mareshah, about thirty 
miles from Jerusalem. 

Mrs. S. Asa could only bring half as many 
troops into the field, but in the name of God he set 
up his banners. Behold these two armies as they 
meet for conflict — Zerah full of confidence in his 
own mighty forces, Asa in faith looking to God 
alone. Hear his prayer : " Lord, it is nothing with 
thee to help, whether with many, or with them that 
have no power : help us, O Lord our God, for we 
rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this 
multitude. O Lord, thou art our God ; let not 
man prevail against thee." 

Susie. And see — the enemy are fleeing before 



CONVERSATION XXI. 203 

him ; we cannot tell whether he struck a single 
blow, only that " the Lord smote the Ethiopians 
before Asa, and before Judah, and the Ethiopians 
fled." 

Jennie. They were struck with such a panic that 
they fled as fast as they could ; Asa and his army 
pursuing them as far as Gerar in the country of the 
Philistines. 

Edward. An immense amount of spoil fell into 
the hands of Asa and his victorious army. We can 
see them returning laden with treasure, and with 
cattle and sheep by thousands. 

Mrs. S. They were met by a faithful prophet — 
Azariah — who reminded Asa of his renewed obliga- 
tion to purify the land, and to lead his people to 
unite with him in doing it. 

Jennie. Asa, ready for this work, immediately 
proclaimed an assembly, sending messengers every- 
where to call his people together, and inviting those 
of Ephraim and Manasseh to join with them. 

Mrs. S. A solemn assembly this was ; for the 
king and his people renewed their covenant with 
God, and pledged themselves to worship the Lord 
with all the heart, and to execute his law upon 
those who refused to obey. Thus Asa was a 
blessing to his people, and after him Jehoshaphat, 
equally eminent for his devotion to God, filled his 
place twenty-five years. 

Edward. Speaking of Jehoshaphat's piety, re- 
minds me of a deliverance which he experienced 



204 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

similar to this of his father. His kingdom is invad- 
ed by the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites. 
Jehoshaphat prepared for defence, but realizing 
that all his help must come from God, he proclaim- 
ed a fast for all his people. Over this great assem- 
bly he presided ; in his earnest petitions pleading 
the promises of God, and with strong faith laying 
hold upon them, ".We have," said he, " no might 
over this great company that come against us, nei- 
ther know we what to do, but our eyes are unto 
thee." Then the prophet Jehaziel by the spirit of 
the Lord declared : " The battle is not yours, but 
God's. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle ; 
set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation 
of the Lord." Jehoshaphat was directed to lead 
his army against these enemies, the precise spot 
where he should meet them being pointed out ; but 
that they should go singing the praises of God : a 
chosen band of Levites for this purpose preceding 
the army. Their song was : " Praise the Lord, for 
his mercy endureth for ever : " and when they 
reached the battle field, instead of fighting, they 
sung the praises of the God of Israel. Behold the 
result — it was indeed the Lord's battle, and he 
caused these nations to turn their arms against each 
other ; Ammon and Moab first destroying the 
Edomites, and then laying hold the one upon the 
other until there were none to escape. A more 
wonderful scene was never witnessed — a field of 
slain, without a hand in the opposing army raised 
for their destruction ! 



CONVERSATION XXI. 205 

Jennie. And such an abundance of spoil left 
upon the field, that it took three days to gather it. 
What a deliverance in answer to prayer. 

Susie. On the fourth day, they assembled in a 
valley which they called Baracah — blessing, and 
united in blessing the Lord. 

Edward. And then instead of returning to their 
homes, they went up to Jerusalem, and held a praise 
meeting. 

Mrs. S. You perceive, my children, what a 
blessing to a people are rulers that fear God. The 
contrast between these two kingdoms is very strik- 
ing. During these two reigns, a period of sixty- 
six years, eight wicked kings were on the throne of 
Israel, and it is emphatically true : " When the 
wicked bear rule, the people mourn." In pursuing 
the history of the prophets, we shall become ac- 
quainted with the character of the people. 



CONVERSATION XXII. 



THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL. ELIJAH S MISSION. 

TRIAL UPON MT. CARMEL. ELIJAH IN THE 

WILDERNESS. ELIJAH AND ELISHA. 

PREACHING BY FIRE. THE ASCENSION 

OF ELIJAH. 

IT 7TRS. SELWYN. The people of Israel in their 
* I departure from God, were not left without 
warning and remonstrance. A few there were, who, 
in the hour of trial stood firm, but they were a hidden 
church. Still from time to time men of God ap- 
peared, to reprove this wicked nation and exhort 
them to repentance. 

Susie. I know the names of some of these pro- 
phets ; Elijah, Elisha, Michaiah, Jonah, Hosea, 
Oded, Nahum, and then two sent from Judah, 
Amos, and the one whose name is not given. 

Edward. Elijah was from Gilead, and he pro- 
phesied in the reign of the wicked Ahab. He in- 
troduced his mission by the declaration : " There 
shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according 
to my word." 



CONVERSATION XXII. 207 

Susie. The apostle James says, he " prayed 
earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not 
for the space of three years and six months." 

Jennie. Why do you suppose he prayed for such 
a judgment ? 

Mrs. S. That it might bring the people to re- 
pentance, and a return to God. 

Jennie. Ahab was very angry, and would have 
put him to death, but God hid him by the brook 
Cherith, and caused the ravens to feed him with 
bread and meat. 

Susie. He staid here until the brook dried up, 
and then God told him to go to Zarephath, where 
a widow woman would feed him. 

Jennie. Zarephath was in Phenicia, the country 
that Jezebel came from. 

Edward. " He found the woman just by the gate 
of the city, and asked her for a drink of water and 
a cake ; and what a reply she gave him : " I have 
not a cake," only a "handful of meal " and a "little 
oil ; " "I am gathering two sticks " " to dress it for 
me and my son, that we may eat it and die." 

Mrs. S. But she believed the word of the stran- 
ger : "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The bar- 
rel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruise 
of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain 
upon the earth." 

Susie. She made him the cake, invited him to 
her home, and her faith was rewarded, for it lasted 
many days, or a whole year for them all. 



2o8 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. She had even more than this, for God 
enabled Elijah to raise her son to life. 

Mrs. S. But the sufferings of the people did not 
lead to repentance, and God directed the prophet 
— by a sacrifice — the prophets of Baal on one side, 
and Elijah on the other, to bring them to a deci- 
sion ; fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice, to 
be the test. All day long the prophets of Baal 
cried to their god, but vain their cries ; while 
Elijah's petition is no sooner uttered, than fire 
from the Lord consumes the sacrifice, the wood, 
the stones, and the water in the trench. 

Jennie. And the people were convinced, for 
with one voice they cried ! " The Lord he is God, 
the Lord he is God." 

Susie. Yes, they were convinced, but they were 
so much in fear of Jezebel, that they dared not re- 
peat it after they left Mt. Carmel. 

Edward. In answer to Elijah's prayer, the much 
desired rain brought joy to the people ; but the 
slaying of the prophets of Baal enraged the guilty 
Queen, and she determined that the prophet should 
die. 

Mrs. S. This was to Elijah an hour of darkness; 
his hopes were crushed, and he fled for his life. 
He seems not to have stopped until leaving Beer- 
sheba and entering the wilderness he sat down un- 
der a juniper tree, and prayed that he might die. 
God was graciously pleased not to answer his pray- 
er, but gave him rest in sleep, and refreshment by 



CONVERSATION XXII. 209 

an angel. Thus he received strength to travel forty 
days without food, until he came to Horeb the 
Mount of God. 

Jennie. I suppose we do not know why he was 
bidden to take this journey. 

Mrs. S. We do not, but while resting here in a 
cave, God proposes to him a question which he 
cannot answer: "What doest thou here Elijah ?" 
It was a reproof for his want of faith, and fleeing 
from his field of labor ; but neither this query, nor 
the whirlwind, the earthquake, nor the devouring 
flames, seem to have moved his heart. 

Edward. But the still small voice, meaning, I 
should think, the whispers of the Holy Spirit, enters 
his very soul ; he is humbled before God, and ready 
to enter again upon his Master's work. He still 
thinks himself alone, but the Lord assures him, 
there are " seven thousand that have not bowed the 
knee to Baal." 

Susie. God directs him to return to Israel, to 
anoint Elisha at Abel-meholah, as prophet ; a long 
distance ; I should think three or four hundred 
miles. 

Jennie. I am sure he went directly to Elisha, 
though he had two other commissions. I can see 
the meeting of these two men of God ; the stern 
Tishbite, in his coarse garment and leathern girdle, 
and the meek Elisha— with his servants ploughing 
— twelve yoke of oxen in all. Elijah throws his 
mantle upon Elisha. He understands the sign and 

14 



2IO LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

runs after him to know if he must go with him right 
away, or can he first kiss his father and mother. 
What a dear good man. 

Mrs. S. He seems ready for whatever God calls 
him, without any questioning. 

Edward. Elijah tells him he need not go with 
him then ; so he makes a feast for those in his ser- 
vice, and for all his friends. 

Susie. And these were not few, for he cooked 
two oxen, using his farming implements to boil 
them. I think they all loved Elisha. 

Mrs. S. Elisha seems a beautiful character. We 
see a great contrast in these two men of God, as 
well as a oneness of spirit. Elijah is introduced to 
us without father or mother, or family friends ; 
Elisha surrounded by an affectionate home circle ; 
Elijah appears to us in majesty, vindicating the 
justice of God, and condemning the guilty ; Elisha, 
like his name — " my God is salvation " — the mes- 
senger of mercy and peace ; Elijah seems as one 
from the unseen world, far above his fellow beings, 
holding on to the arm of the Almighty ; Elisha as 
one of the people, an affectionate son, a kind mas- 
ter, mingling in every day affairs ; each is devoted 
to his heavenly calling, renouncing the world, and 
by faith ready, in the service of the Master, to face 
danger or death — the one a Moses, the other a 
John. 

Jennie. Thank, you, mother, for enabling us to 
see these men of God so plainly. 






CONVERSATION XXII. 211 

Susie. Elijah's work it seems is not ended, 
although his successor is appointed. He continues 
in active service ten years longer. 

Edward. He shows himself once more to Ahab. 
This is in the vineyard of Naboth. Ahab's excla- 
mation is : " Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" 
Elijah's reply is: "I have found thee: because 
thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of 
the Lord." Then he declares the judgments that 
shall come upon him and his house. The king 
seems deeply moved : "he repented, fasted and 
mourned ; " and God in mercy declared to the pro- 
phet ; " Because he humbled himself before me, I 
will not bring the evil in his day, but in his son's 
days." 

Susie. Ahab in battle received a mortal wound, 
and his son succeeded him ; but his family were all 
afterward destroyed by Jehu. 

Jennie. I always wonder why Naboth did not 
sell his vineyard to Ahab. 

Mrs. S. An Israelite was by the law forbidden 
to sell his inheritance. Ahab knew the law ; but 
for his own gratification, wished Naboth to violate 
it. Jezebel cared not for the law either of God or 
man ; and upon a false accusation caused Naboth 
to be put to death, so as to get the vineyard. 

Edward. One more scene in the life of Elijah, 
I would like to relate. Ahaziah, the king, being 
sick, sent messengers to the Philistine oracle at 
Ekron, to enquire whether he should recover. The 



212 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

angel of the Lord directs Elijah to meet these 
messengers, and to assure them that the king 
would die. Surprised at their quick return, Ahaziah 
asks the reason for this ; and receives the message 
given, as they said, by a " hairy man, girt with a 
leathern girdle." " Is it because there is no God in 
Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baalzebub, the god 
of Ekron ? " "Thou shalt not come down from the 
bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely 
die." The king in a rage calls for a captain of fifty 
men, and says : " Go with your troop, and seize 
Elijah the Tishbite, and bring him to me." He 
bows assent, and hastens to execute his commission. 
Seeing the prophet on a lofty eminence, he says : 
" O man of God come down." With holy indigna- 
tion, and unwavering faith, Elijah replies : " If I 
be a man of God, let fire come down from God, 
and consume thee and thy fifty." No sooner said, 
than fire flashes from heaven, and the host are all 
consumed. The king infuriated, will not yield the 
contest. Another captain with his fifty is sent with 
the same command, and with the same result. 
Again, a third captain with his fifty approaches the 
fatal spot, but humbling himself, he pleads with the 
prophet for mercy ; he therefore, and his fifty, are 
spared. Elijah is bidden to go with them to the 
guilty king, but it is only to repeat the same divine 
message. 

Mrs. S. Here is exhibited the power of faith, 
and the justice of God upon the guilty ; upon those 
who make light of divine commands. 



CONVERSATION XXII. 213 

Edward. We have now come to the evening of 
this holy man's life — an evening followed by no 
night ; for ere its shades deepen, there opens upon 
his enraptured soul the dawn of an eternal day. 

Jennie. We know little of his last days. Elisha, 
I think, was with him. 

Susie. How greatly they enjoyed each other. 
They were, I believe, at Gilgal. 

Mrs. S. When leaving, Elijah wishes Elisha to 
remain ; saying, " The Lord hath sent me to Beth- 
el." 

Jennie. But Elisha would go with him. Do you 
think Elisha knew that he was to be taken from 
him ? 

Mrs. S. Certainly, and so did the sons of the 
prophets. 

Edward. They went to Bethel, and then to Jer- 
icho. In each of these places was a school of the 
prophets, and this was Elijah's farewell visit. 

Susie. Elisha would continue with him, and they 
went to the Jordan. 

Edward. As they stand by the river ; behold ! 
Elijah smites the water with his mantle, the stream 
divides ; on one hand flowing away, and on the 
other, piled up like a wall of crystal ! Thus with 
safety they pass to the other side. 

Mrs. S. As the end draws near, Elijah speaks : 
"Ask what I shall do for thee before I am taken 
from thee." And for what does Elisha ask ? So 
deep is his sense of his own insufficiency, and of 



214 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

the greatness of the work to which he is called — for 
what should he ask, but for the spirit bestowed 
upon Elijah ; his power with God, and devotion to 
his service a double portion, for in himself he is 
nothing. "A hard thing," says Elijah; "but if 
thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be 
so to thee." To obtain the blessing ; watchfulness 
is necessary as well as prayer. Elisha does behold 
the ascending prophet, and receives the blessed 
sign. The mantle of Elijah rests upon Elisha. 
With gladness he seizes the falling mantle ; 
while with bitter grief he rends his own clothes — 
exclaiming : " My father, my father, the chariot of 
Israel, and the horsemen thereof ! " What can this 
express, but the greatness of the nation's loss ? 

Edward. As he retraces his steps, and again 
stands on the banks of the Jordan, he looks to God 
with humble faith, and smiting the water with 
Elijah's mantle, he opens a passage through the 
river. The sons of the prophets beholding this, 
exclaim : " The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Eli- 
sha ; " and with reverence receive him as their ap- 
pointed guide. 

Jennie. Elisha goes first to Jericho, and then to 
Bethel. At Jericho he wrought one miracle, called 
the "healing of the waters." By God's direction 
he first put salt in it, and then it was good, and the 
land became fertile. 

Susie. At Bethel the children ran after him, cry- 
ing : " Go up thou bald head." They had heard, I 



CONVERSATION XXII. 215 

suppose of Elijah's going up to heaven, and bade 
him go up — making fun of it. But God sent wild 
beasts to destroy those who insulted his prophet. 

Mrs. S. God will not be mocked. We will take 
Elisha to-morrow evening. 



CONVERSATION XXIII. 



ELISHA S MIRACLES. THE MOABITE STONE. — NAA- 

MAN. DELIVERANCE OF ELISHA. OF SAMARIA. 

JEHOSHAPHAT. MARRIAGE OF HIS SON. 

EVIL RESULTS. INFLUENCE OF 

JEHOIDA. 

CTUSIE. Elisha surely had a double portion of 
Mr Elijah's spirit ; how great his faith, how many 
his miracles, how devoted to the service of God. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Like the miracles of our Saviour, 
performed for the relief of the suffering. You may 
begin the description of them, Jennie. 

Jennie. The first was the healing of the waters 
of Jericho. Again when Israel, Judah and Edom 
were united against Moab and ready to perish with 
thirst, Elisha, directing trenches to be dug, caused 
them to be filled with water. This deliverance was 
granted for the sake of Jehoshaphat, in answer, no 
doubt, to his prayers. The sun shining upon it 
caused the Moabites to think it blood, and that 
these kings had destroyed each other ; so rushing 
carelessly upon them, their army was destroyed, and 
their country laid waste. 






CONVERSATION XXIII. 217 

Edward. Here let me give you an interesting 
discovery. In II. Kings 3 : 4, it says this king of 
Moab was Mesha, who had rendered annually, to 
Ahab, the wool of two hundred thousand sheep. 
Upon the death of Ahab he rebelled, and refused 
to pay this tribute. This caused the war. Now 
here is the interesting fact. In 1868 the Moabite 
stone was discovered. It is four feet in length and 
two in width, and on it an inscription made by this 
Mesha, King of Moab. His father, he states, had 
been subdued by Omri, king of Israel, and they had 
been in subjection to this power, but he boasts of 
having thrown off this yoke. This stone was prob- 
ably set up when he rebelled. How it attests the 
truth of scripture, and cries out against the un- 
believer. Here are the same names, and the same 
facts that the Bible gives. The inscription is in 
Hebrew, and is thought the oldest alphabetic writ- 
ing in the world. 

Je?inie. Thank you, Edward, for this wonderful 
piec.e of information. The next miracle of Elisha 
was the increase of the widow's oil, so that she 
could pay her debt and have something to live upon. 
Then comes the story of the Shunamite who had 
furnished the prophet with a home ; a room with a 
bed, a stool, a table and candlestick. As a return, 
in answer to his prayer, God had given her a son, 
but he had died very suddenly. The afflicted 
mother seeks the prophet. She is sweetly submis- 
sive, but God gives him power to raise her son to 



2l8 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

life, and thus to gladden her heart. He next 
removes the poison from the pottage of the sons of 
the prophets, causes twenty loaves to feed a hun- 
dred men, and relieves the man's sorrow for the 
loss of his borrowed axe, by causing the iron to 
swim. 

Susie. Now let me tell about Naarnan and the 
little captive maid. The little waiting girl felt so 
sorry because her master had that terrible disease, 
the leprosy, that she begged him to go to the 
prophet in Israel, for he could 'cure him. Naarnan 
went with many presents and a long retinue to the 
humble residence of the prophet. Although a for- 
eign nobleman, yet Elisha sent only a servant, and 
the direction to dip himself seven times in the 
Jordan, with the assurance that he would then be 
cured. Naarnan was angry, but his servants pre- 
vailed upon him to comply with the prophet's 
direction, and the foul disease was gone. He then 
returned with gratitude to the prophet, assuring 
him he would never worship any god but the God 
of Israel. He entreated the prophet to accept a 
present, but Elisha would take nothing. His ser- 
vant however followed Naarnan with a lie in his 
mouth, and took a reward. He then with a solemn 
face told his master he had been nowhere ; but 
Elisha declared what he had done ; also that with 
the treasure the foul disease should be his portion. 

EJwird. Now I will give an account of Elisha' s 
deliverance from a Syrian army. The king of Syria 



CONVERSATION XXIII. 219 

is provoked because Elisha makes known his de- 
signs, and resolves that he shall die. An army is 
therefore sent against him. Elisha's servant, amazed 
at sight of this army, exclaims ; "Alas, my master [ 
how shall we do?" Elisha prays that he may see 
their defence, and immediately he perceives the 
horses and chariots of fire by which they are sur- 
rounded. The Syrian army, in answer to Elisha's 
prayer, are struck blind, and are led by the prophet 
into Samaria. Here they are at the mercy of their 
enemies, but Elisha sends them home in peace. 

Mrs. S. Here we see how safe are those who 
trust in God. One man could indeed thus chase 
a thousand. 

Edward. The king of Syria being foiled in this 
purpose, resolves to wreak his vengeance on the 
whole nation. He suddenly besieges Samaria, and 
the people unable to obtain food, become brutalized 
by famine, so that the most revolting articles are 
eaten, and the mother actually feeds upon her own 
child. The wicked king Jehoram, the son of Ahab> 
infuriated by this calamity, resolves upon the death 
of Elisha, and a messenger is despatched for the 
bloody deed. 

Mrs. S. But the prophet is safe, for the Lord is 
on his side. He is forewarned of his danger, and 
the messenger is seized. The king enters and is 
informed by the prophet that on the morrow there 
shall be plenty in Samaria. The officer upon whom 
the king leans replies ; "Behold, if the Lord would 



2 20 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

make windows in heaven might this thing be?" 
"Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt 
not eat thereof," said Elisha. God had made 
known this deliverance to His servant ; it was 
therefore certain, but no one could tell how it 
should be brought about. 

Jennie. And how wonderful it was. God made 
the enemy "hear a noise of chariots and a noise of 
horses," so that they thought the Israelites had 
hired other nations against them. 

Susie. And they fled in such haste that they left 
everything behind them ; tents, garments, weapons, 
provisions ; and it was all done so silently that it 
was only known by the report of four leprous men, 
who had resolved to throw themselves on the mercy 
of the enemy. 

Mrs. S. Thus Elisha's prophecy was fulfilled, 
and the morrow was a day of rejoicing ; but where 
was the unbelieving officer? 

Jennie. He was trodden under foot by the joy- 
ous multitude. He only lived to know the truth of 
Elisha's prediction. 

Edward. Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, 
reigned in Judah at the same time with Jehoram, 
the son of Ahab. They were brothers-in-law, for 
Jehoshaphat's son married Athaliah, the daughter 
of Ahab. 

Jennie. How could Jehoshaphat permit his son 
to marry Jezebel's daughter? What an influence 
she must have had upon her husband and children. 



CONVERSATION XXIII. 221 

Mrs. S. How a good man could have consented 
to such a union seems unaccountable. His alliance 
with Ahab always seemed strange. 

Susie. I dare say he thought that helping Ahab 
in his wars, would induce him to come over to the 
right way. 

Mrs. S. Wisdom from above must be sought in 
the effort to reclaim the wicked. A parent cannot 
be under obligation to pursue a course which tends 
to the corruption of his own children. To care for 
the sick is a duty, but no man would be justified in 
bringing a plague-smitten patient into his own 
family. 

Edward. People often go farther than they 
intend. Jehoshaphat in his desire to reform his 
neighbors, had no idea at first of bringing an 
idolater into his family, I dare say. 

Mrs. S. Jehoshaphat was a missionary king. 
More than once he sent men of God through the 
length and breadth of the land to instruct the 
people in the divine commands. The marriage of 
his son with Athaliah was doubtless a great trial to 
the pious father, but he hardly realized its fearful 
consequences. His son was led to walk in the way 
of the house of Ahab, and his people were cor- 
rupted, even to succeeding generations; for the seed 
sown by this second Jezebel brought forth fruits of 
bitterness. Athaliah, when Ahaziah, her son, was 
slain, caused the death of all the royal family except 
one little babe that was hidden from her. But the 



222 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

soul-destruction of which she was guilty, eternity- 
alone can reveal. We learn from this history that 
union with the wicked is never safe. We should 
never conform to anything inconsistent with our 
holy profession, to induce others to pursue the right 
way ; never even look approvingly upon what leads 
astray from God. 

Edward. There was a writing that came to 
Jehoram, king of Judah, from the prophet Elijah, 
ten years after his translation, containing denuncia- 
tions against him for his wickedness, the judgments 
with which he should be visited, and the fearful 
disease of which he should die. 

Mrs. S. This had no doubt been kept by Elisha. 
How could it but awaken the king to a sense of 
his aggravated guilt, in closing his eyes to the light, 
and giving himself up to the vilest abominations. 
But he was hardened in sin. 

Edward. All these judgments came upon him, 
and he "departed without being desired." His son 
Ahaziah fell by the sword of Jehu, who was com- 
missioned to destroy the family of Ahab, and for 
six years Athaliah was a curse to the nation. It 
was in mercy that the three reigns were in all only 
eleven years, and it was great cause for joy when 
Athaliah was slain, and the little Joash made king. 

Susie. Especially as there was one good man to 
be his father, the high priest Jehoida, who was now 
one hundred years old. 

Jemiie. Then he must have been born in the 



CONVERSATION XXIII. 223 

reign of Solomon, for Solomon had been dead only 
ninety-seven years. But where was Joash during 
Athaliah's reign ? 

Mrs. S. Hidden in the temple by Jehoida and 
his aunt Jehosheba. He was seven years old when 
crowned, but Jehoida managed the affairs for twen- 
ty-eight years. He was really the regent. 

Susie. Everything belonging to idolatry was 
destroyed, and the temple repaired. A contribution 
box with a hole in the top to receive the money was 
placed at the gate of the temple, and in this was 
gathered money in abundance. 

Jennie. But I cannot help thinking of the evil 
that came from Jehoshaphat's being so much with 
Ahab ; I mean the evil influence upon his children. 
He was, I know, a very faithful king. He did a 
great deal for the benefit of his own people, and 
probably in helping Ahab. His object was to 
bring the Israelites over to the right way, but the 
evil that resulted was greater than the good. 

Susie. The prophet Jehu reproved him for help- 
ing the ungodly, thus seeming to "love them that 
hate the Lord;" but this was about the time of 
Ahab's death. 

Mrs. S. Jehoshaphat's aim was doubtless to do 
good, and he did not foresee the evil results; but 
his error was acting from the impulse of feeling, 
without seeking divine direction. Many christians 
of the present day expose their children to in- 
fluences that endanger the welfare of the soul, with- 



224 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

out seeming to think of the consequences. I have 
often thought it like exposing them to the circling 
eddies of a whirlpool ; for the fascinating amuse- 
ments so common in the world of fashion are truly 
circling eddies in the great moral whirlpool, by 
which the immortal spirit is drawn into the gulf of 
perdition. 



CONVERSATION XXIV. 



REIGN OF JOASH. DEATH OF ELISHA. KINGS OF 

ISRAEL. OF JUDAH. BATTLE BETWEEN THE 

TRIBES. INFLUENCE OF A PROPHET. 

WORSHIP OF MOLOCH. PERIOD OF THE 

PROPHETS. JONAH. HOSEA's 

PROPHECY. 

V7T DWARD. The reign of Joash until the death 
"^H. of Jehoiada was a period of reformation, but 
when left to himself, Joash acted out his real char- 
acter, and there was a general return to idolatry. 
Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, for reproving the 
king, was stoned to death ; but the oppression of 
Joash was so intolerable, that he was at length slain 
by his own servants. 

Jennie. Let us now look at Israel. We left Je- 
horam on the throne. 

Edward. Jehoram died the same year that Atha- 
liah usurped the throne, 884 years B. C. Then 
Jehu reigned twenty-seven years, and Jehoahaz 
eighteen ; Jehoahaz in Israel, and Joash in Judah 
died the same year, 839 B. C. Then came Joash 
in Israel, and Amaziah in Judah. 

15 



226 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. But I am especially desirous to know 
what became of Elisha. I cannot find anything 
about him. 

Edward. He is safe, you may be sure, whether 
on earth or in heaven ; but I have been look- 
ing for him, and for forty-five years he is not once 
named. Neither Jehu nor Jehoahaz had any re- 
gard for Elisha, but Joash seems to have revered 
the aged prophet, visiting him when on his sick 
bed, and at his death exclaiming : " My father, my 
father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen there- 
of ! " thus expressing the loss to the nation. 

Jennie. Elisha was not translated, but a man 
came to life by touching his dead body. 

Mrs. Selwyn. The three kings of Judah, Ama- 
ziah, Uzziah and Jotham, whose reigns counted 
together make ninety-seven years, were good sov- 
ereigns, though Jotham was the best. It is said of 
him, that " he became mighty, because he prepared 
his way before the Lord his God ; " and in his 
reign of sixteen years, he seems to have accom- 
plished more for the good of his people than both 
the others. Uzziah's reign was fifty-two years. 
He was great as a warrior, but in attempting to burn 
incense upon the golden altar in the temple, he was 
smitten with the leprosy, and thus came to an igno- 
ble end. 

Susie. In the description of characters in the 
Bible, the purposes of the heart are given, and we 
can see the secret springs of action. 






CONVERSATION XXIV. 227 

Edward. Jehu was commissioned by God to 
destroy the house of Ahab, and the idolatry of 
Baal. This he did, but he was an idolator, for he 
restored the calf worship. God had promised him 
that his posterity to the fourth generation should 
hold the throne ; and this was so. The third sov- 
ereign, Jeroboam second, reigned prosperously 
forty years, but his son was in power only six 
months, and it was eleven years after his father's 
death before he could get the throne. From this 
time to the captivity there was a rapid decline. 
The Assyrians invaded the land. Tiglath-pileser 
laid waste the country east of Jordan, taking many 
of the people captive ; then Shalmaneser beseiged 
Samaria, and after a three years' seige it was taken 
probably by Sargon ; the inhabitants carried cap- 
tive, and placed in the cities of the Medes, never 
returning to their own land. 

Mrs. S. Thus judgments for their disobedience 
came upon them, as Moses had declared ; God in 
justice permitting the heathen to carry them away 
from their good land, and giving them up to the 
devices of their own hearts. At the time of this 
captivity, 721 B. C., Hezekiah was king of Judah. 
Between Jotham and Hezekiah was Ahaz a mon- 
ster of wickedness, given up to the vilest idolatry, 
the worhip of Baal and of Moloch. Their enemies 
came upon them ; first Rezen, king of Syria, carried 
many captives to Damascus, then Pekah, king of 
Israel, in one battle slew one hundred and twenty 
thousand, and took two hundred thousand captive. 



228 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. Now let me tell the story of these cap- 
tives. Pekah's intention was to make them slaves ; 
but the prophet Oded came out boldly, and showed 
how great a sin this would be. For their sins, he 
said, the people of Judah had been given into their 
hands, but " are there not sins with you against the 
Lord your God ? " " Hear me, therefore, and de- 
liver the captives which you have taken ; for the 
fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you." The people 
were moved by these words, and these captives 
were at once set free, and permitted to return to 
their homes. Four men of Ephraim, head men of 
that tribe, seem to have been main actors in this 
benevolent work. They supplied the naked with 
clothes and shoes ; and also with food, and furnish- 
ed asses for the feeble among them to ride. 

Edward. What a blessing that there was one 
prophet who dared to speak for God, to the king 
and his victorious army. 

Mrs. S. Blessed the influence of those who dare 
to do right. 

Jennie. But how much misery, one man, the 
wicked Ahaz, brought upon his people. The king- 
dom was invaded, and the king of Assyria hired to 
help him with gold from the temple ; though for 
this Ahaz had no use, as the doors were shut, the 
lamps out, the sacred fire extinguished. The 
greater his trouble, the greater were his sins ; in 
every part of Jerusalem were altars to idol gods. 

Susie. A mercy it was when Ahaz died, and the 
good king Hezekiah came to the throne. 



CONVERSATION XXIV. 229 

Jennie. Mother, what is meant by passing 
through the fire to Moloch ? Did parents put their 
children alive in the fire ? 

Mrs. S. Moloch was a brazen image upon a 
brazen throne, with the body of a man and the head 
of a calf. Children were thought the offering most 
acceptable to him. One method of performing the 
sacrifice was by placing the child upon its extended 
arms ; from which the little victim would fall, and 
roll through the fire which was kindled beneath it. 
The valley of Hinnom was the place in Jerusalem 
where this idol was set up. It was also called To- 
phet, from toph, a drum ; because drums were beat 
to drown the cries of the child. Surely, "the ten- 
der mercies of the heathen are cruelty." 

Edward. I have somewhere read, that our Saxon 
ancestors used to sacrifice their children to a bra- 
zen god in this way — the child being put within the 
image which was heated from a fire beneath ; thus 
causing it to endure a terrible death. This image 
was a Moloch: 

Mrs. S. The tortures inflicted upon innocent 
children from devotion to an idol, are revolting to 
the feelings of humanity ; and should lead us to 
make known the true way of salvation. But for the 
labors of the missionaries — what would be our con- 
dition to-day ? Freely we have received, freely we 
should give. Of another thing I would remind you; 
beware of such devotion to Fashion, as to make her 
an idol. 



230 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. We have now come to the period of 
the prophets whose writings make a part of the 
sacred volume. They all lived between 800 and 
400 B. C. Jonah, Joel, Hosea, Amos, Isaiah, Mi- 
cah, and Nahum, from 800 to 700 B. C. ; Zepha- 
niah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Obediah, from 700 
to 600 B. C. ; and after 600, Daniel, Ezekiel, Zech- 
ariah, Haggai and Malachi. 

Susie. As Jonah lived before the others, let us 
begin with him. 

Jennie. Jonah lived in the reign of Jeroboam 
2d, in Gath-hepher, a city of Zebulun. One pro- 
phecy I find II. Kings 14 : 25, which he gave to 
Jeroboam 2d ; that he should obtain possession of 
the land of Israel as originally granted, " from the 
entrance of Hamath ; " and we have the history of 
his doing this. 

Edward. God directed Jonah to go to Nineveh, 
and proclaim its destruction in forty days ; but in- 
stead of this, he started off just the other way. 
What a disobedient prophet ! 

Mrs. S. God did not let him alone in this dis- 
obedience, but in judgment, or rather in mercy, 
sent such a tempest as brought him to a sense of 
his guilt. He felt condemned, and, I think, had no 
hope of mercy. So he told the men : "Take me 
up,, and cast me into the sea." This he thought 
would save their lives. 

Susie. The men hated to do this, but Jonah told 
them he was the cause of the tempest ; and that the 



CONVERSATION XXIV. 231 

God whom he had disobeyed, was the " God of 
heaven that made the sea and the dry land." Then 
they were afraid, and cast him into the sea. 

Jennie. And it was just as he had said ; the 
storm ceased, and the sea became calm. Then 
the men feared his God, offered sacrifices and made 
vows. 

Edward. God took care of Jonah ; a great fish 
was ready to swallow him, and God enabled him to 
live in the belly of the whale. He then repented 
and prayed ; his prayer was heard, and he dedicated 
himself anew to God. 

Mrs. S. Deliverance was now sent, and on the 
third day the fish cast him in safety upon the dry 
land. Thus he prefigured the resurrection of 
Christ on the third day, to which our Saviour refers. 
This book is history rather than prophecy, except 
as he foretells the destruction of Nineveh. 

Susie. Jonah gave evidence of his repentance 
by going directly to Nineveh, and proclaiming the 
message God had given him. 

Jennie. How wonderful that the words of this 
stranger were believed. The king seems to have 
set the example of humbling himself before God. 

Edward. But I think the greatest wonder in the 
case was, that Jonah did not rejoice in their repen- 
tance and being saved from destruction. Just think 
of his being angry that this people were saved, be- 
cause it made him seem a false prophet. But Jonah 
writes his own history, and does not seek to hide 
his faults. 



232 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. Hosea is thought to have been of the 
tribe of Issachar. His name is the same as Joshua 
— meaning salvation. He began to prophesy before 
the death of Jeroboam 2d, and held this office for 
at least sixty years. 

Edward. He therefore lived through the period 
when that kingdom was hastening to destruction ; 
divisions at home, and invasions from abroad. 
Like Jeremiah, he sympathised in the sufferings of 
the people, set before them their sins, and the 
judgments coming upon them ; exhorting them to 
repentance and a return to God. 

Jennie. But, mother, is not the manner in which 
he was directed to enter upon his office very 
strange ? Was it not singular, that a man of God 
should be told to take a wife of bad character ? 

Edward. Was it not to represent to Israel what 
God had done for them, and how they had treated 
him. 

Mrs. S. I think so. The union between God 
and his people is represented by the marriage 
relation. To the seed of Jacob, God had given the 
seal of his covenant ; not because of their devotion 
to Him, for the generation with whom this cove- 
nant was ratified on Mt. Sinai, was the wicked gen- 
eration that perished in the wilderness. 

Susie. Their children entered the good land, 
and what blessings had been theirs. 

Jennie. And yet their history had been a record 
of departure from God. 



CONVERSATION XXIV. 233 

Mrs. S. So Hosea to illustrate the baseness of 
their conduct, was .directed to take a wife, whose 
character resembed theirs, and who, notwithstand- 
ing his loving kindness to her, would desert him. 
Still he should seek her and provide for her ; while 
showing his abhorrence of her conduct, and "hedg- 
ing up her way with thorns." In like manner God 
by his judgments would persuade his people to re- 
turn to him, making the valley of Achor — of trouble 
— a door of hope. Thus a remnant should be saved, 
and to this remnant covenant blessings promised ; 
and the gospel beginning at Jerusalem should be 
published to all nations. Even to Ephraim mercy 
is proffered. " O Israel thou hast destroyed thyself, 
but in me is thy help." Though Samaria be deso- 
late, the penitent shall find mercy. 

Susie. I have been looking for prophecies of 
Christ. "Out of Egypt I have called my son," is 
quoted by Matthew ; but how was this a prophecy 
of Christ ? 

Mrs. S. Because Israel was a type of Christ, 
4 ' Israel is my son." Ex. 4 : 22. 

Edward. Hos. 10: 11 is quoted, Rom. 9 : 25, 
and I Pet. 2 : 10. I should think that Paul and 
Peter both considered this prophecy fulfilled on 
the day of Pentecost. Where it is said : " Ye are 
not my people, there it shall be said, ye are the 
children of the living God." 

Susie. Hos. 6 : 6 is quoted Mat. 9:15: "I will 
have mercy and not sacrifice. " 



234 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. The more I read this book the more I am 
impressed with the thoughts, and the manner they 
are expressed. The figures are full of force and 
beauty. " They sow to the wind and reap the 
whirlwind." "They eat up the sins of my people 
as they eat up bread." " Ye have plowed wicked- 
ness, and reaped iniquity." This is a description 
of the course pursued, and the evils brought upon 
themselves. 

Susie. There is also a tenderness in the prophet's 
manner very touching. Chapter eleventh is beauti- 
ful. God describes his bringing them out of Egypt, 
by a mother teaching a little child to walk. " Taking 
them by the arms " " he taught them to go." 
"They are drawn by bands of love," and "meat 
is placed before them." Yet Ephraim " knew not 
who healed him," for he was "bent on backsliding." 
Yet says the Holy One : " How shall I give thee 
up, Ephraim ? how shall I deliver thee, Israel ? how 
shall I make thee as Admah ? how shall I set 
thee as Zeboim ? mine heart is turned within me, 
my compassions are kindled together. I will not 
execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not re- 
turn to destroy Ephraim : for I am God and not 
man." 

Mrs. S. The more you read this book, the more 
you will discover Christ, and the gospel plan of sal- 
vation. To-morrow evening we will make the ac- 
quaintance of Joel and Amos. 



CONVERSATION XXV. 



PROPHECY OF JOEL. JUDGMENTS UPON JUDAH. 

PROMISES OF BLESSINGS. AMOS A MISSIONARY 

PROPHET. — JUDGMENTS UPON THE NA- 
TIONS. UPON ISRAEL. 

1C7TRS. SELWYN. Joel, does not say at what 
J ( time he prophesied ; though it is thought to 
be at the same time as Hosea, in the reigns of 
Uzziah and Jotham. It may however have been 
earlier. 

Edward. It is quite evident that he was a 
prophet of Judah. His prophecies are of judg- 
ments to be visited upon the nation, and of bless- 
ings that should be poured out. 

Mrs. S. In the first place, he describes a deso- 
lation, caused by drought and the ravages of locusts. 
It seems like a prophecy, but commentators I find, 
think it a description of what had taken place, and 
that it is referred to as a harbinger of calamities 
that would come upon them. 

Susie. He describes the ravages of four kinds of 
insects ; the palmer worm, the locust, the canker 
worm, and the caterpillar, each eating what the 



2$6 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

others did not. The commentary I have consulted ; 
Jamieson and Fousset, gives the opinion that these 
were locusts, in their different stages of existence ; 
and that, thus, is prefigued what they should suffer 
under the Assyrian, Medo-Persian, Macedonian, 
and Roman powers. 

Mrs. S. The prophet then earnestly entreats 
his countrymen to return to God with all the heart ; 
with fasting, weeping and mourning, rending their 
hearts and not their garments, with true repentance 
and reliance upon the mercy of God. A solemn as- 
sembly of all classes and conditions was called, and 
their prayer was, that the Lord, for His name's sake, 
that the heathen might not say where is your God, 
would bless His people. 

Edward. It seems to me that this might have 
been in the reign of Joash, when Jehoiada had the 
administration of affairs. 

Mrs. S. This is what I think, and I know no 
evidence against this opinion. 

Jennie. Their prayers were heard, and blessings 
were promised ; fruitful seasons, and an abundance 
of food for man and beast. 

Edward. And then comes the promise of spirit- 
ual blessings, not only in the present, but in the 
distant future. The prophet seems favored with a 
view of the glorious out-pouring of the Holy Spirit 
upon all flesh, upon all classes and conditions of 
people, and of all nations. 

Susie. The period when daughters as well as 



CONVERSATION XXV. 237 

sons should prophesy ; the servants and handmaids 
sharing in these blessed influences. 

Jennie. And Peter on the day of Pentecost de- 
clares that this prophecy was then fulfilled. 

Mrs. S. Yes, this prophecy began then to be 
fulfilled ; but these out-pourings of the Holy Spirit 
in showers of divine grace have continued, and 
still continue to bless the world. 

Edward. After the promise of these blessings, 
the prophet declares there shall be fearful judgments; 
"blood and fire and pillars of smoke/' "The great 
and terrible day of the Lord," I should think de- 
noted the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. 
At that time he says, "Whosoever shall call on the 
name of the Lord shall be delivered," and it is a 
historical fact that no Christian perished with the 
city. Believing the words of Jesus, and obedient 
to his direction as given, Matt. 24 : 15, 16, they fled 
to the mountains. A little city called Pella was 
their place of refuge ; the Roman army, for some 
unknown reason being for a little time withdrawn, 
gave them an opportunity to escape. 

Mrs. S. This destruction of Jerusalem is given 
as the type of the general judgment ; and in that 
dreadful day, it is surely true that those only who 
call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved. 

Edward. So far, I think I understand the 
prophecy, but the last chapter is not clear to me. 

Mrs. S. I will try to explain as far as I can. 
From Mt. Zion where the work of redemption was 



238 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

accomplished, deliverance comes to every believer ; 
but upon those who reject this salvation, despising 
the Saviour and his people, — the true Israel — the 
judgments of God will come, as upon those who 
were oppressors of Israel in former times. Tyre 
and Sidon, Egypt and Edom, are given as examples 
of those suffering the penalty of divine justice. 
Tyre was especially guilty for selling Iraelites as 
slaves to the Grecians, and thousands of Tyrians 
were sold as slaves by Alexander. It is also true 
that judgments have come upon those, who, perse- 
cuted the people of God, as is proved by their his- 
tory. Jehoshaphat — signifying " the Lord hath 
judged" — is the name given to the place of judg- 
ment. The overthrow of the enemies of the church 
is here predicted, while the assurance is given, that 
the Lord will be the " hope of his people, and the 
strength of the children of Israel." 

Jennie. The blessings that shall rest upon the 
people of God, and the curses visited upon their 
enemies, are very forcibly described. To the one 
" the mountains shall drop down new wine, " and 
" the hills shall flow with milk ;" to the other, "there 
shall be desolation, " " a desolate wilderness. " 

Mrs. S. The extension of the kingdom of 
Christ, the restoration of the Jews, the safety of the 
people of God, and the doom of the wicked, are all 
brought into view by this prophet ; who seems like 
Elijah, a messenger from the unseen world. 

Echvard. While Joel was proclaiming the truth 



CONVERSATION XXV. 239 

of God in Judah, Amos from the same kingdom 
was sent with a divine message to Israel. He was 
from Tekoah, a country place not far from Jeru- 
salem. He was a herdsman, neither a prophet nor 
the son of a prophet, but a man of God, a divinely 
appointed missionary, commissioned to declare the 
denunciations of divine wrath to the people of Israel. 
We find him at Bethel, that seat of idolatry, boldly 
proclaiming the truth of God. 

Susie. Uzziah was at this time king of Judah, 
and Jeroboam second of Israel ; both of them able 
sovereigns, and successful in their wars ; each king- 
dom in a prosperous state. 

Edward. These kings were for twenty-six years 
contemporary sovereigns. 

Susie. Amos commences his prophecy by a quo- 
tation from Joel : " The Lord shall roar from 
Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem." 

Mrs. S. He pronounces judgments upon cities 
and nations, the oppressors of God's people — Da- 
mascens, Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Tyrus, 
Edom, Amnion and Moab, and then upon Judah, 
before announcing the message which he brings 
from God to Israel. 

Edward. We must think of him as a stranger 
addressing an assembly of idolatrous Israelites. His 
hearers may have rejoined in view of what their 
enemies should suffer, and have listened attentively 
to the denunciations against them ; but when the 
prophet comes home to their consciences by 



240 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

solemnly enumerating the sins of which they know 
themselves to be guilty — their oppression of the 
poor, their injustice and their shameless immorality 
their contempt of God and of his commandments ; 
they are not so well pleased. 

Mrs. S. He also brings into view the blessings 
they had received from God ; their deliverance from 
Egypt, their preservation in the wilderness, the over- 
throw of their enemies, and the possession of this 
good land. He then reminds them that their de- 
partures from God, had not been for want of 
knowing the right; "I raised up of your sons for 
prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. 
Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel ? saith 
the Lord." And how had they received these ser- 
vants of God ? " Ye gave the Nazarites wine to 
drink, and commanded the prophets saying: pro- 
phesy not." For this base contempt of covenant 
mercies ; destruction should come upon them, and 
none should escape. 

Edward. Their guilt is also shown to be aggra- 
vated, by their near relation to God ; no other peo- 
ple ever admitted to such privileges as they. "O 
children of Israel, which I brought up from the 
land of Egypt ; you only have I known of all the 
families of the earth, therefore I will punish you 
for all your iniquities." The greater the obligation, 
the greater the guilt of disobedience. 

Jennie. Then Egypt and Philistia are called to 
assemble upon the mountains of Samaria, to behold 



CONVERSATION XXV. 241 

their crimes and their punishment ; the palaces of 
Samaria spoiled, as well as the altars of Bethel. 
The judgments that had been sent upon them, not 
having led them to repentance, the prophet utters 
this warning ; "Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." 

Susie. Unless they repent, he assures them they 
shall be visited with greater calamities. And here 
comes in his lamentation -over them, a pleading with 
them to repent ; for "it may be that the Lord God 
of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." 
But their heartless offerings God abhors, and their 
sacrifices will he not accept, while they transgress 
his laws. 

Jennie. Then comes the threatening, "I will cause 
you to go into captivity beyond Damascus ;" and 
also a woe upon those who disregard this threatening, 
giving themselves up to the pursuit of pleasure ; 
these shall be torn away from their luxurious ban- 
quet-halls, to perish by the sword, or to be captives 
in a strange land. 

Edward. At least sixty years before the captivity, 
Amos warns them of the final overthrow ; " I will 
deliver up the city and all that is therein. And the 
high places of Isaac should be desolate, and the 
sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will 
rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the 
sword." 

Susie. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, hearing this 
was very angry, and sent word to Jeroboam, that 
Amos had conspired against him. He also said to 



242 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Amos : " Oh thou seer, flee into the land of Judah 
and there eat bread, and prophesy there." But 
Amos told him that the Lord called him when fol- 
lowing the flock, and said ; " Go prophesy unto my 
people Israel." 

Mrs. S. By a plumbline, he illustrated how the 
sins of Israel were measured by God, and that he 
would not any more pass by their transgressions. 
By a basket of ripe fruit, he showed that the na- 
tion was ripe for destruction. 

Jennie. How bold are his figures, and so apt as 
to give great clearness to his language, and lead us 
to feel its force. 

Mrs. S. There is grandeur in the thoughts. He 
warns the people of a famine, "not of bread, nor a 
thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the 
Lord." How fruitless the attempt to escape the 
judgments of God, is portrayed in chapter 9 : 1-4, 
with wonderful sublimity. 

Susie. And so is his description of the Most 
High, verses 5, 6. 

Mrs. S. An overwhelming destruction should 
come upon His people, who had broken their cove- 
nant, and were now to Him as the Ethiopians, the 
Philistines and Syrians. 

Edward. Still there should not be an utter de- 
struction, for Israel should be shaken "as corn is 
sifted in a sieve," yet shall not the least grain fall 
upon the earth." 

Mrs. S. In closing his message, Amos gives a 



CONVERSATION XXV. 243 

promise of Christ. "In that day I will raise up the 
tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the 
breaches thereof ; and I will raise up his ruins, and 
I will build it as in the days of old ; that they may 
possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, 
which are called by my name, saith the Lord that 
doeth this." This passage is quoted by James, Acts 
15, 16, 17, as being fulfilled in the conversion of the 
Gentiles ; "that the residue of men," those not Jews, 
"might seek after the Lord." The closing verses 
predict the future restoration of the Jews, when 
they shall receive Jesus as their promised Messiah. 
This we are sure will be fulfilled in God's own good 
time. 

Jennie. These minor prophets, as Dr. Cuyler 
says, " are gold mines, yielding inexhaustible ores of 
precious truth." 



CONVERSATION XXVI. 



CHARACTER OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. HIS VISION. 

THE MESSAGE. ISAIAH'S HISTORY. PROPHE- 
CIES OF CHRIST. MICAH AS A PROPHET. 

THE BOOK OF MICAH. HIS PROPHE- 
CIES AND THEIR FULFILLMENT. 

TTRS. SELWYN. No author, ancient or mod- 
J*"[ern, is more sublime than Isaiah. His lips, 
touched with celestial fire, in the very language of 
heaven, he proclaims the glorious scheme of redemp- 
tion, than which, no theme so vast ever entered 
mortal mind. 

Edward. Other prophets had made known 
God's gracious promise of a Messiah, but Isaiah 
brings into view his wonderful nature, human and 
divine ; showing that though the "Man of sorrows," 
he is the "mighty God, the everlasting Father." 

Susie. For this reason I suppose, Isaiah is called 
the evangelical prophet, sometimes the fifth evan- 
gelist. 

Jennie. He so plainly makes known the way of 
salvation, he may well be called the bearer of glad 
tidings. 



CONVERSATION XXVI. 245 

Susie. We know just when he lived, for the 
names of the kings then reigning are given. His 
name means "the salvation of the Lord." 

Edward. I think he began to prophesy in the 
latter part of Uzziah's reign, for he received his 
commission from God in the year that Uzziah died. 

Jennie. And in what a wonderful manner it was 
given to him. 

Mrs. S. Yes, by a glorious vision. He seemed 
to be in the court of the temple ; the curtains with- 
drawn so that he could look right into the holy of 
holies. There he saw the Lord sitting upon a 
throne high and lifted up, and his train filled the 
temple. Above Him were hosts of angels waiting 
his commands, each one crying: "Holy, holy, holy 
is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His 
glory ;" the pillars of the temple in motion, and the 
sacred place in darkness. 

Edward. How deeply the prophet felt his un- 
cleanness in this holy assembly ; the very presence 
of the Lord of hosts. 

Jennie. But one of the seraphim, taking a live 
coal from the altar and placing it upon his lips, 
assured him that his sin was purged. 

Susie. Then he heard a voice, not of command, 
but of enquiry: "Whom shall I send, and who will 
go for us?" 

Edward. How readily he replies: "Here am I, 
send me." And what a message he receives. "Go 
and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but understand 



246 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

not ; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make 
the heart of this people fat, and make their ears 
heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their 
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand 
with their heart, and convert, and be healed." 

Mrs. S. And this awful message is quoted, or 
referred to, six times in the New Testament.* It 
plainly declares that the means of grace, if slighted 
and contemned, are "a savor of death unto death." 
To the all- seeing eye of Jehovah, the hearts of His 
people are naked and open. He sees that His 
message of love would be rejected, therefore in jus- 
tice He would leave them to hardness of heart, and 
blindness of mind. The condition of the Jews 
through succeeding ages verifies the fulfillment of 
this threatening. For their rejection of Christ they 
grope in darkness under the meridian beams of 
gospel light. 

Edward. Yet Isaiah is assured that a remnant 
shall be saved. Though Christ was rejected by the 
nation, yet a remnant believed in him as the 
promised Messiah, and many are the predictions 
that a remnant of Israel will yet be gathered into 
the gospel fold. 

Jennie. But, mother, did Isaiah really see God? 

Mrs. S. I will answer you in the words of John. 
" No man hath seen God at any time ; the only 
begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, 

*Matt. 13: 14, 15. Mark 4: 12. Luke 8 : 10. John 12: 39, 40. 
Acts 28 : 26, 27. Rom. 11:8. 



CONVERSATION XXVI. 247 

He hath declared Him." John i : 18. You will 

also find in reading the description of this glorious 
appearance, in John 12 : 37-41, that it was the glory 
of Jesus which the prophet saw. 

Susie. Now I would like to know something 
more of Isaiah. 

Edward. He was of the royal family. His father 
Amoz was the brother of king Amaziah, and the 
prophet married the daughter of Hezekiah. He 
resided in Jerusalem, and prophesied about sixty 
years. There is a tradition that his death was by 
being sawn asunder by Manasseh. 

Mrs. S. The last twenty-^'*?/* chapters of Isaiah 
are called the evangelical part, because the theme 
is Christ and the plan of redemption ; but in the 
first part of the book are some remarkable proph- 
ecies of Christ. To one of these I called your 
attention not long since: " Behold, a virgin shall 
conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name 
Immanuel." Isa. 7 : 14. 

Edward. In the ninth chapter are some remark- 
able prophecies. The prophet first refers to the 
desolation brought upon the land of Zebulun and 
Naphtali, and then he seems to have a glimpse of 
the glory that should there be revealed ; the great 
light that the people "in the land of the shadow of 
death" should in the future behold. Knowing that 
Capernaum, the scene of our Saviour's wonder- 
working power, was in the tribe of Naphtali ; I 
could not but be impressed with the fulfillment of 



248 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

this prophecy. Then the prophet, as if the Divine 
Being were present to his view, exclaims : "Unto us 
a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the 
government shall be upon his shoulder; and His 
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the 
mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of 
Peace." How fully the divinity of our Saviour is 
proved by the prophet's testimony. 

Mrs. S. There are many other prophecies of 
Christ in the first thirty-five chapters, and other 
predictions that have had a remarkable fulfillment. 
The next four chapters contain a history of Heze- 
kiah. 

Jennie. The fortieth chapter commences with a 
prophecy of John the Baptist; "The voice of one 
crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the 
Lord." 

Mrs. S. Isaiah also predicts the deliverance 
from the captivity in Babylon, although as yet there 
was no indication of the captivity ; but the redemp- 
tion of Judah from Babylon by Cyrus, and the 
redemption of sinners by Christ are blended, the one 
being a type of the other. Dr. Scott says ; "When 
spiritual blessings are predicted under the veil of 
temporal deliverances, some passages will accord 
best to the type, and others to the anti-type." 
Thus Cyrus is sometimes lost sight of in the Mes- 
siah ; and then we look wholly upon the prophecy 
as a prediction of Cyrus, as he is pointed out by 
name, and the work he should accomplish is plainly 
declared. 



CONVERSATION XXVI. 249 

Edward. Yes, in the close of chapter forty-four, 
and the commencement of chapter forty-five, Cyrus 
is foretold by name as the Lord's shepherd, and his 
anointed, to perform His pleasure ; even laying the 
foundations of the temple, and causing Jerusalem 
to be rebuilt. 

Susie. And the way in which he should take 
Babylon is declared. "I will dry up thy rivers." 
— he entered the city by the bed of the river — 
and also to "open before him the two leaved gates." 
The gates on each side the river were two leaved 
and were open. 

Mrs. S. After this prediction, Cyrus is ad- 
dressed, promises are made to him, and the reason 
is given why he is thus favored. "For Jacob, my 
servant's sake," "I have even called thee by thy 
name. Then, in the succeeding chapters, Christ as 
king in Zion speaks with promises of blessings, not 
only to Israel, but to the Gentiles. 

Edward. Yes, it seems plain that Christ is the 
speaker. He is born of a woman, "a servant to 
raise up the tribes of Israel." "A Light to the 
Gentiles." "Salvation to the ends of the earth." 
"The Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy 
One." 

Mrs. S. Then a description is given of the 
manner in which He will be received by those 
whom He comes to save. "Man despiseth ; " "the 
nation abhorreth." "I gave my back to the 
smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off 



250 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

my hair. I hid not my face from shame and spit- 
ting." 

Susie. In reading of Christ's sufferings in the 
gospels, how fully we realize the fulfillment of these 
prophecies. 

Mrs. S. The fifty-third chapter seems like a his- 
tory, instead of a prophecy ; showing how the 
blessed Saviour was received, what He endured, the 
mockery and cruel hate of His enemies, His meek- 
ness, patience, and forgiving love. 

Jennie. He was numbered with transgressors, — 
crucified between thieves. He made "His grave 
with the wicked and with the rich in His death," — 
laid in Joseph's tomb. 

Edward. In the fifty-fourth chapter, the future 
glory of the church is foretold ; and in the fifty-fifth, 
" to every one that thirsteth " invitations are given 
to partake of these blessings ; and in the fifty-sixth 
a call to the stranger and the outcast to share in 
their abundance, is also given. 

Mrs. S. In the sixtieth is a glorious view of the 
triumphs of the gospel among all nations. This 
only being in part fulfilled, it is still the duty of 
His followers to carry on the work. The world is 
open, and millions are pleading for the bread of 
life. The great Captain of our salvation, who 
comes with dyed garments from Bozrah, is triumph- 
ant over all His enemies ; the day of vengeance to 
them, but of blessings to His redeemed ones. 
Edom is the symbol of anti-christian powers, and 



CONVERSATION XXVI. 25 I 

the deliverance of the church from her enemies is 
here foretold — the final triumph of the Redeemer ; 
the commencement of the glorious period when 
Satan shall be bound a thousand years, and all shall 
know the Lord from the least to the greatest. 

Edward. Micah prophesied at the same time as 
Isaiah, in the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. 

Mrs. S. He was not like Isaiah in his manner, 
but his prophecy, like that of Isaiah, contains much 
of Christ. 

Jennie. He was so earnest in condemning the 
wickedness of the people, that it made him seem 
rough. He was so deeply affected in view of the 
calamities which he foresaw were coming upon 
both Israel and Judah, that he says "I will make 
a wailing like the dragons, and a mourning as the 
owls." 

Susie. In condemning the sins of both Israel 
and Judah, as Samaria and Jerusalem by their 
influence had corrupted the whole people, he de- 
clares that judgments will fall most heavily upon 
these cities. 

Edward. He enumerates the vices of which 
they are guilty ; drunkenness, robbery, idolatry, 
licentiousness, and with these, avarice and oppres- 
sion of the poor. I could not help thinking he 
was describing the people of our country, as well 
as of Israel. 

Mrs. S. To the prophets they say, "prophesy 
not ;" thus it is always with those who are devoted 



252 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

to selfish gratifications ; they wish to be let alone, 
that they may pursue the way of evil. The same 
spirit, it is to be feared, is prevalent among us. 

Jennie. Micah says they were willing to hear, if 
one would " prophesy of wine and strong drink." 
To be encouraged in any kind of self-gratification, 
is, I suppose, pleasing, and hence one who proph- 
esies smooth things will be sought after. 

Susie. Now let us look at the book of Micah. 
It is said to consist of three prophetic addresses ; 
the first a prediction of judgments. Samaria 
should become "as heaps in the field," the "stones 
poured out into the valley." This city was very 
soon taken by the Assyrians, and destroyed. 

Mrs. S. The second address was spoken to the 
princes, priests and false prophets ; and as Jeremiah 
says, in the reign of Hezekiah. Perhaps they had 
outwardly conformed to the requirements of the 
pious king, while in secret they practised their evil 
deeds. The false prophets he condemns for crying 
peace while war was in their hearts. 

Jennie. Then comes the penalty for their trans- 
gressions. " Zion shall be ploughed as a field," 
" Jerusalem shall become heaps," and " the moun- 
tain of the house as the high places of the forest." 
This we know has all been fulfilled. The traveller, 
Dr. Porter, says: he saw "the ploughshare making 
its furrows upon Mt. Zion." Jerusalem has been 
in heaps, and the temple so utterly destroyed, that 
one stone was not left upon another. 



CONVERSATION XXVI. 253 

Mrs. S. In the fourth chapter we have a beauti- 
ful description of the kingdom of the Messiah. 
In the last days "the mountain of the Lord's house 
shall be established in the top of the mountains/' 
and "people shall flow unto it." This is a spiritual 
elevation, and the stream of people flowing to it, 
the Gentiles as well as Jews entering the Christian 
church ; and by striking figures, the change is 
described, which they should experience. This 
prophecy, on the day of Pentecost, began to be 
fulfilled ; it is still being fulfilled, and the more 
earnestly Christians labor and pray, the more fully 
will these glorious results be realized. 

Edward. In verse eighth of chapter fourth, there 
is a promise that the kingdom shall come to Jeru- 
salem ; "the first dominion," it is called. This was 
an assurance that the Messiah should there establish 
His kingdom ; and we know that the Christian 
church was there first established. Then the prophet 
exclaims: "Why dost thou cry out aloud?" "Is 
there no king in thee?" This evidently implies 
that the king is cut off ; and then is the declara- 
tion, "Thou shalt go even to Babylon;" "there 
shalt thou be delivered ; there shall the Lord re- 
deem thee from the hand of thine enemies." With 
the prediction of judgments comes the promise of 
deliverance. 

Mrs. S. The prophet next speaks of those who 
rejoice in the overthrow of the people of God ; but 
his spiritual vision is so enlightened, that he fore- 



254 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

sees these same nations devoting their gold and 
silver to the Lord. I think his prediction was ful- 
filled when the Medes and the Persians aided those 
who had been captives in Babylon, in rebuilding 
the house of the Lord. Ezra 7 : 11-26. 

Susie. How wonderful that they should do this, 
and how fully the promise was verified. 

Jennie. In the beginning of the fifth chapter 
it speaks of the " daughter of troops." I wonder 
who this can be. 

Mrs. S. I think this is the power of Rome. I 
do not know why Rome should be called the 
daughter of troops, but I am sure that it is Rome 
that "smites the judge of Israel on the cheek." 
The judge is still there; "The sceptre has not 
departed from Judah." 

Susie. Then in the very next verse comes the 
promise of the birth of Christ : " But thou, Bethle- 
hem Ephratah, though thou be little among the 
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come 
forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel, whose 
goings forth have been of old from everlasting." 

Jennie. But before His coming, the prophet 
foresaw a time of great trouble. 

Mrs. S. And a time of great departure from 
God. But a remnant would receive the promised 
One ; and they "in the midst of many people" shall 
be "as dew from the Lord ;" and "they shall abide, 
for now shall He be great to the ends of the earth." 
Here is the assurance of the extension of the 



CONVERSATION XXVI. 255 

Redeemer's kingdom ; and we know that the name 
of Jesus was proclaimed far and near through the 
Roman empire in the days of the apostles. This 
was the world to them, and the apostle Thomas 
went beyond the bounds of the empire, even into 
India. 

Edward. In the sixth chapter, the prophet calls 
to their remembrance the deliverances God had 
given his people in days long past, and argues from 
hence their guilt in serving other gods. He also 
reminds them, that they cannot propitiate the favor 
of God by the most costly offerings while the 
heart is not right with him. 

Jennie. I think their hypocrisy was apparent to 
the prophet : " The best of them as a briar, the most 
upright sharper than a thorn hedge ;" "the son dis- 
honoring the father ; a man's foes of his own 
household." 

Sitsie. In view of this state of the people, the 
prophet could only look to God, for in all his dark- 
ness the Lord would be his light. 

Mrs. S. Micah here personates the church, and 
his confidence may be the confidence of every child 
of God. Enemies and persecutors will be over- 
thrown, and the Redeemer's kingdom prevail 
throughout the whole earth. With this precious 
assurance the prophet closes : "Thou wilt perform 
Thy truth to Israel, and Thy mercy to Abraham, 
which Thou hast sworn unto the fathers from the 
days of old/' 



CONVERSATION XXVII. 



ISRAEL AND JUDAH 800 B. C. AHAZ. HEZEKIAH'S 

REIGN. DECLINE AND CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL. 

MONUMENTAL ANNALS. INVASION OF JU- 
DAH. DELIVERANCE. THE POWER 

OF PRAYER. 

IT TRS. SELWYN. We will this evening look at 
J I Israel and Judah during this period of the 
prophets. 

Edward. At the commencement of the century 
both kingdoms were in a prosperous state ; at 
peace with each other, and triumphant over the 
surrounding nations. Two able sovereigns were on 
the throne ; Jeroboam 2d, in Israel from 825 to 784, 
and Uzziah in Judah from 810 to 758 B. C. 

Mrs. S. Yet, while each kingdom seemed to 
stand so strong, prophets were commissioned to 
warn them of impending judgments ; Joel proclaim- 
ing God's message in Judah, Hosea and Amos to 
the people of Israel. 

Susie. I should think more attention was given 
to Joel's preaching, than to that of Hosea or Amos. 

Mrs. S. The people of Judah had not so uni- 
versally departed from God as the ten tribes ; and 
for ninety-seven years — the reigns of Amaziah, Uz- 



CONVERSATION XXVII. 257 

ziah and Jotham — the worship of the true God was 
sustained ; while in Israel there was never a reform- 
ation, but an advance from bad to worse. 

Jennie. But at the death of Jotham, Ahaz, that 
monster of wickedness, ascended the throne, and 
the people were willing to join with him in the wor- 
ship of idols. 

Edward. Yes, for sixteen years the most abom- 
inable idolatry was the order of the day ; and it 
was also a period of great calamity. Pekah, king 
of Israel, and Rezin, king of Syria, both made war 
upon him ; and Ahaz put his kingdom under trib- 
ute by hiring Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, to help 
him. 

Jennie. A happy day it was when the good king 
Hezekiah ascended the throne. He was like David, 
a man after God's own heart. 

Susie. And as soon as he had the power, he set 
about the work of reformation, destroying every- 
thing that belonged to idolatry, and preparing the 
temple for the service of God. 

Mrs. S. The priests and the Levites prepared 
themselves for this sacred work ; and the house of 
God, so long neglected and pillaged, was cleansed 
and the furniture restored to the appointed places. 
Incense was burned upon the golden altar, and sac- 
rifices in great abundance were offered according 
to the law. With these offerings came songs to the 
Lord, and the sound of instruments with the voice 
of thanksgiving filled the sacred courts. 

17 



258 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. But the temple could not be got in order 
in time for the feast of the passover, and God per- 
mitted, therefore, that it should be observed in the 
second month instead of the first. 

Jennie. And such a passover had not been kept 
since the time of Solomon. Hezekiah sent letters 
by posts to the people of all the tribes, from Dan to 
Beersheba, requesting them to attend this feast, 
assuring them that if they return to God, he will be 
gracious to them. 

Edward. These messengers were treated with 
scorn and derision by some ; but others humbled 
themselves, and accepted the invitation of the pious 
king ; so that a great multitude assembled at Jeru- 
salem to observe this sacred feast. 

Mrs. S. It was a season of great gladness. 
Like other pious kings, Hezekiah was bountiful ; 
giving for sacrifice one thousand bullocks, and ten 
thousand sheep. The example of the king stirred 
up the people to their duty ; so that the tithes were 
sent in for the priests and Levites in great abun- 
dance, and both givers and receivers were full of 
joy. Thus it is always ; true repentance brings 
forth the fruits of obedience, and obedience fills the 
soul with joy. 

Edward. This was the first year of Hezekiah's 
reign, and it was a nobJe beginning of the great 
work upon which his heart was set, the reformation 
of his people : and for this he ever continued to 
labor. In the prophet Isaiah, he had a friend and 



CONVERSATION XXVII. 259 

helper, and Micah also was an earnest laborer in 
promoting the spiritual good of the nation. 

Mrs. S. From the death of Jeroboam 2d to the 
captivity of the ten tribes, were sixty-three years ; 
one-third of this time the people in a state of anar- 
chy, no man able to hold the throne. During 
this period there were three invasions by the kings 
of Assyria ; Pul, who was hired to depart ; Tiglath- 
pileser, who carried captive the tribe of Napthali, 
and the tribes east of Jordan : and Shalmaneser, 
who beseiged Samaria. The seige lasted three 
years, and then the city was taken by the Assyrians, 
the name of the king not being given ; while the 
records upon the rocks of Nineveh, give Sargon as 
the captor. Sargon is once named in scripture, Isa. 
20 : 1, as having sent Tartan against Ashdod ; while 
the annals of Sargon record that he took Ashtod : 
thus agreeing with the Scripture account. Again the 
monuments represent him as making war upon 
Egypt, and bringing it under tribute, while Isaiah 
in the fourth verse of the twentieth chapter declares, 
that the king of Assyria shall lead away the Egyp- 
itans prisoners. In his annals, he is said to have 
conquered Media, and the Scripture account is, that 
he placed many of the Israelites " in the cities of 
the Medes." Thus the very stones cry out against 
those, who doubt the truth of the divine records. 

Edward. These statements are wonderfully in- 
teresting, but now let us look at Hezekiah, and the 
trials he was called to endure. His kingdom was 



260 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

under tribute to the king of Assyria when he began 
to reign, but at last he refused to pay this tribute. 

Susie. This must have provoked the wrath of 
these proud monarchs. 

Mrs. S. This was indeed the case, but the war 
with Israel, and the untimely death of the kings 
Sargon and Shalmaneser, seem to have caused a mer- 
ciful delay ; so that for thirteen years Hezekiah 
was not molested by those who were plotting his 
destruction. 

Edward. But at length the evil day came ; and 
Sennacherib at the head of his victorious army 
entered this little country, and advanced so rapidly, 
that I should think the soldiers of Hezekiah fled 
before him ; for in a short time he took all the 
fenced cities of Judah.* 

Mrs. S. Now, Edward, please to read the annals 
of Sennacherib, inscribed upon the monuments, as 
Mr. Rawlinson has given them.f 

Edward. [Edward reads.] " Because Hezekiah, 
king of Judah, would not submit to my yoke, I 
came up against him, and by force of arms, and the 
might of my power, I took forty-six of his strong 
fenced cities, and of the smaller towns scattered 
about, I took and plundered a countless number. " 
" And Hezekiah himself I shut up in Jerusalem, his 
capital city, like a bird in a cage." " Then upon this 
Hezekiah there fell the fear of the power of my 

*2 Kings 18 : 13, 14. 
fHistorical Evidences, page 120. 



CONVERSATION XXVII. 261 

arms, and he sent out to me the chiefs and the 
elders of Jerusalem, with thirty talents of gold, and 
eight hundred talents of silver, and divers treasures, 
a rich and immense booty.'' 

Mrs. S. Here is a wonderful confirmation of 
the Scripture account. There is a difference in the 
amount of silver, as the Scriptures say three hun- 
dred talents, and the annals eight hundred, but the 
figures eight and three might easily be mistaken the 
one for the other. A talent you will recollect is 
one hundred and twenty-five pounds. The Scrip- 
ture does not speak of the number carried captive, 
but Sennacherib boasts of having taken more than 
two hundred thousand, men women and children. 

Susie. This was a peace dearly bought. 

Mrs. S. Yes, it was a peace dearly purchased, 
and yet no peace was obtained. The conqueror 
seems for a little time to have left the land of Ju- 
dah, but soon returned — perhaps was on his way to 
Egypt — and concluding Hezekiah faint-hearted and 
easily overthrown, he sent ambassadors demanding 
his submission ; he himself meanwhile besieging 
Lachish. 

Jennie. These ambassadors, Tartan, Rabsaris, 
and Rab-shakeh demanded Hezekiah to come to 
them in person ; but this he refuses, and sends Eli- 
akim, Shebna and Joah. 

Edward. The speech of Rab-shakeh, which is 
given in Kings, Chronicles and Isaiah, is beyond 
measure insulting and blasphemous. The ambas- 



262 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

1 

sadors of Hezekiah make him no' reply, but with 
their clothes rent, they return to their king, and 
make known the nation's danger. 

Susie. Hezekiah's distress is very great, but his 
hope is in God. Isaiah is just the friend he needs 
in this hour of darkness, for he unites with him in 
pleading for deliverance, and enquires of God in 
his behalf. 

Jennie. And this message which he receives 
from God is full of encouragement to the trembling 
king. It is a divine assurance of deliverance from 
the enemy. " Behold, I will send a blast upon him, 
and he shall hear a rumor, and shall return to his 
own land ; and I will cause him to fall by the sword 
in his own land." 

Mrs. S. But Rab-shakeh, not satisfied with the 
words of contempt and blasphemy which he had 
spoken, sent to Hezekiah a letter of the same im- 
port. This letter, the pious king takes to the house 
of God, and spreading it out before the Lord, he 
pleads that He would interpose for the deliverance 
of his people, that " all the kingdoms of the earth 
may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou 
only." 

Edward. And these believing prayers were ans- 
wered, the promises all fulfilled. On that very 
night the Assyrian host, one hundred and eighty- 
five thousand men, slept the sleep of death. Byron 
beautifully describes this event, and if you will per- 
mit, I will repeat some of the stanzas. 



CONVERSATION XXVII. 263 

Mrs. S. Yes, my son, it will give us pleasure to 
hear them. 

" The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, 
And his cohorts were gleamingin purple and gold ; 
And the sheen of their spears were like stars on the sea, 
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee. 
Like the leaves of the forest when summer is green, 
That host with their banners at sunset was seen ; 
Like the leaves of the forest when autumn hath blown, 
That host on the morrow lay withered and strown ; 
For the angel of death spread his wings on the blast, 
And breathed on the face of the foe as he passed ; 
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, 
And their hearts but once heaved, and forever stood still. 
And the widows of Asher are loud in their wail, 
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal, 
And the might of the Gentiles unsmote by the sword, 
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord." 

Sennacherib lived to see the destruction of his 
army, to return in shame to his own land, there to 
be slain by his sons in the temple of his god. 

Susie. How plainly we are taught that there is 
nothing too hard for the Lord ; that He is the only 
refuge ; and that the prayer of faith is always heard 
and answered. 

Afrs. S. There is another remarkable event in 
the life of Hezekiah, which must have occured in 
this same year ; and I think between the two inva- 
sions of Sennacherib. 

Edward. You refer to the sickness of Hezekiah: 
the message to him that he must die, and his life 
being prolonged fifteen years in answer to his pray- 
er. It must have been in the fourteenth year of 



264 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

his reign, as fifteen years were added, and his whole 
reign was twenty-nine. 

Jennie. I have often wondered why he was so 
anxious to live ; but it seems plain, if his country 
was in such danger. 

Susie. I am sure that it was at the time of dan- 
ger from this fact ; for God gives this promise : I 
will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the 
king of Assyria, in connection with the promise 
that his life should be prolonged. 

Mrs. S. We do not know what was his disease, 
but he had a sore on which Isaiah was directed to 
lay a plaster of figs. He recoverd rapidly, so that 
in three days he could go to the house of God. 

Susie. The sign that was granted at his request 
was wonderful. 

Jennie. Wonderful indeed ! The earth must 
have gone backward in her orbit. 

Edward. Nothing too hard for the Lord. At 
the request of Joshua, the earth for some hours 
stood still. 

Jennie. But, mother, how strange that Heze- 
kiah's sickness and recovery were so soon known at 
Babylon. 

Mrs. S. Not at all strange, Jennie ; for Baby- 
lon was at this time the seat of astronomical or as- 
trological science ; and this wonder in the heavens, 
the sun going backward ten degrees, could not have 
escaped the notice of their learned men. They 
would therefore seek to find out the cause of this 



CONVERSATION XXVII. 265 

wonder, and would think the man, at whose word 
this sign was given, a superior being. 

Edward. This accounts for the visit of these 
embassadors to king Hezekiah. He was proud of 
this attention, and manifested it by showing them 
his treasures. God, to try him, left him to himself. 

Mrs. S. Isaiah reproved him for his pride, fore- 
told the calamities the king of Babylon would bring 
upon the nation, that these treasures, and even his 
children should be carried to this city. His own 
son was a captive there, and in one hundred years 
the temple was destroyed, its treasures taken, and 
the people for seventy years captives in Babylon. 
But Hezekiah came in peace to his end. 



CONVERSATION XXVIII. 



THE WORLD 700 B. C. THE TWO EMPIRES. MANAS- 

SEH. JOSIAH. THE REFORMATION. FALL OF 

NINEVEH. PROPHECY FULFILLED. LATE 

DISCOVERIES. RECORDS. 

ITTRS. SELWYN. I think it will be well for 
« I us this evening, to look at the state of the world 
at this period — about 700 B. C. Greece and Rome 
are yet in their infancy — the star of Empire not hav- 
ing yet risen upon the " Isles of the Gentiles/' as Eu- 
rope was then called. Your Bible -Atlas will give you 
the cities and countries at this time most flourish- 
ing, and the most powerful. 

Susie. In Africa is Egypt, now in her glory ; 
and Ethiopia is somewhere in that vicinity, probably 
south of Egypt. 

Jennie. Then on the coast of the Mediterranean, 
are the Philistines and the Phenicians ; known best 
by their great cities, Gaza, Gath, Ashdod, Ashkelon, 
and Ekron — Philistine cities ; Sidon, and Tyre — 
Phenician ; Tyre superior to the others for its 
manufactures and commerce. 

Edward. Directly east of Phenicia, I find the 
kingdom of Syria, and Damascus its capital. Travel- 
ing south, the land of Israel is desolate, but reach- 






CONVERSATION XXVIII. 267 

ing little Judah, Jerusalem with her beautiful tem- 
ple appears in view ; and I think Moab Ammon, 
and Edom were still under her dominion. 

Mrs. S. Farther to the east were two great 
cities, rivals to each other ; Nineveh on the Tigris, 
and Babylon on the Euphrates ; each at the head 
of a powerful empire, and striving for the conquest 
of the world. Media and Persia, between the Cas- 
pian Sea and Persian Gulf, are not at this time 
distinguished, though Media is rising in power. 

Edward. The Assyrian empire was now extend- 
ing her dominions most rapidly ; the death of the 
army of Sennacherib being her first great over- 
throw ; but his son. Ersa-haddon after this was 
everywhere victorious. 

Mrs. S. Even Babylon came under his power, 
so that he united the two empires, the Assyrian and 
the Chaldean, making Babylon the proud seat of his 
dominion. He it was that carried Manasseh into 
captivity. 

Edward. This answers a question I was just 
about to ask ; how it was that the king of Assyria 
could carry Manasseh to Babylon when it was not 
in his dominions ; but now it comes all plain. 

Jennie. Now let us go to the land of Judah. I 
know we shall find the wicked Manasseh on the 
throne. His whole reign was fifty-five years, but 
we do not know how long he was a captive. He 
was worse than the Canaanites, and seemed deter- 
mined to do just what God had forbidden. 



268 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. He shed much innocent blood sacri- 
ficing children to Moloch, and putting to death 
good people like Isaiah. 

Susie. How strange that Hezekiah, so devoted 
to God, should have such a son. 

Mrs. S. In his captivity, you know, he became 
a changed man. In his prison-life, his father's 
instructions may have led him to repentance ; for 
he humbled himself and prayed, and his prayers 
were heard and answered. He was restored to his 
kingdom, not the wicked Manasseh, but a servant 
of God, bringing forth the fruits of righteousness. 

Susie. Anion, his son, was an idolator, but his 
reign was short. 

Jennie. And then came the little boy-king Jo- 
siah, only eight years old, so eminent for his piety. 

Edward. Yes, devoted to God and to the good 
of his people ; but how sad his death in a battle 
that seemed unnecessary, against the king of Egypt. 

Mrs. S. It was from fear that Pharaoh-necho 
would invade his kingdom. 

Edward. The king said he had no such inten- 
tion, but Josiah paid no regard to what he said. 

Mrs. S. Because he did not know whether it 
was true or false. 

Jennie. But what was the king of Egypt there 
for, if not to make war upon him ? 

Mrs. S. He was going against Carchemish, a 
city which belonged to the king of Babylon, and his 
most convenient route was through the valley of 



CONVERSATION XXVIII. 269 

Esdraelon. It was at Megiddo, the entrance to this 
valley, that Josiah met him. He did what he 
thought was his duty to his people, in going against 
him. 

Susie. His death was greatly lamented, and well 
it might be. 

Edward. In his reign of thirty-one years, how 
much he had done for the good of his people. But 
how strange that the book of the law was lost, so 
that he never saw it till the eighteenth year of his 
reign. 

Mrs. S. It seems so to us ; but there was prob- 
ably but one copy, and in the time of Manasseh it 
had been thrown out as something useless, and was 
now found by the priest among the rubbish. 

Edward. How much the king was affected by 
the reading of the law. He saw the sins of his 
people, and believed that God would send judg- 
ments upon them, as he had declared. 

Mrs. S. The prophets Jeremiah and Habakkuk 
were living at this time, but when Josiah wished for 
one to enquire of God, it was Huldah who brought 
from the Lord a message of consolation for him. 
This shows that women as well as men were thus 
favored. These words of consolation were for him, 
but not for his people. The judgments were sure 
to come, though not in his day. Josiah was taken 
from the evil to come. 

Edward. But he called his people together, and 
in this great assembly, the law was read. He him- 



270 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

self made a covenant with God, to keep this law 
with all his heart, and desired his people to unite 
with him in this covenant. 

Susie. He caused the groves, the high places, 
the images, and everything leading to idolatry to be 
destroyed ; not only in Jerusalem but in other parts 
of the land. 

Jennie. In Bethel, he did what had been fore- 
told of him ; he burned the bones of men upon the 
altar, and put to death the idolatrous priests. 

Mrs. S. A passover at this time was such a season 
of repentance, as had not been observed since the 
time of Samuel. The pious king was earnest in laying 
hold of the promises of God, and large-hearted in 
his offerings. His early death seems to us a dark 
providence, but God's ways are not as our ways. 

Edward. The king of Egypt, professing himself 
so friendly, on his return took king Jehoahaz pris- 
oner, and laid the kingdom of Judah "under tribute. 
This was the way he showed his good will. 

Jennie. The reign of Josiah was the last bright 
spot in the history of Judah. 

Susie. It was during his reign that Nineveh fell. 
625 years B. C. it was besieged. 

Jennie. Two hundred years before ; Jonah had 
been sent to proclaim : " Yet forty days and Nineveh 
shall be overthrown." The king and people believ- 
ing this message and repented, and were spared : 
but they had returned to their evil ways ; had for- 
gotten the mercy of God ; and sought the destruc- 



CONVERSATION XXVIII. 27 I 

tion of His people. Six kings of Nineveh had 
made war upon them. 

Jennie. Nineveh was a very strong city — the 
walls one hundred feet high, and so wide that three 
chariots could go abreast upon it. 

Edward. Yet, while she was in her glory, the 
prophets Nahum and Zephaniah declare that she 
shall be utterly destroyed ; and should become " a 
desolation, and dry like a wilderness," " a place 
for beasts to lie down in."* The whole book of 
Nahum is a prophecy against Nineveh. Nahum 
lived in the time of Sennacherib, and Zephaniah in 
the reign of Josiah. Let us compare the prophecy 
with history. 

Mrs. S. I like your idea. Herodotus says, that 
in his time there were no remains of Nineveh ex- 
cept some huge mounds ; and Xenophon in the 
"Retreat of the Ten Thousand," 400 B. C. passing 
over the spot where this city stood, sees no signs 
of what it once was. In the second century, A. D. 
Lucian says ; " Nineveh has utterly failed, snd 
there is no remaining trace of her." 

Edward. The prophecy of Nahum is wonder- 
fully sublime. He commences with a declaration 
of God's indignation against his adversaries. " The 
Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the 
storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." 
"Who can abide in the fierceness of his anger?" 
"His fury is poured out like fire." "The Lord is 

* Zeph. 2 : 13-15. 



272 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

good, a strong hold in the day of trouble ; and he 
knoweth them that trust in him." Perhaps, at this 
very time Sennacherib was coming down " like a 
wolf on the fold." To the eye of man, there seem- 
ed no escape for the little flock on the mountains 
of Judah, or for the holy city, and its consecrated 
house of prayer. But the Lord was a stronghold 
to his believing people, and the enemy, though 
numbered by thousands, were all cut down by his 
mighty hand in a single night. 

Jennie. Rab-shakeh, I am sure, is " the wicked 
counsellor ; " for with what contempt he speaks of 
the God in whom they trust. 

Susie. And of the proud king, what Isaiah had 
declared was true : "I will put my hook into thy 
nose, and my bridle into thy lips, and I will lead 
thee back by the way thou earnest." 

Edward. He was permitted to return to his own 
land, to fall by the sword of his own sons ; and as 
Nahum declares, " in the house of his gods." 

Jennie. What is meant, mother, by this clause ; 
"that no more of thy name be sown ? " 

Mrs. S. I think it means, that the end of this 
race of kings was near. His son, Esar-haddon did 
succeed, and reign prosperously, also Nebuchadnez- 
zar. But then came the last of his race, Saraeus ; 
who, when his city was taken, setting fire to his 
palace, destroyed himself with his women and his 
treasures. 

Edward. Nabopolasser, a Babylonian general, 



CONVERSATION XXVIII. 273 

was at the head of the rebellion ; and aided by 
Cyaxares, king of Media, besieged Nineveh. I think 
Nahum foretells this invasion ; " He that dasheth 
in pieces is come up before thy face." This dasher 
in pieces, must be Nabopolasser. 

Susie. I think the prophet in the second chap- 
ter, represents the city in the hands of the enemy. 

Mrs. S. And it seems like a literal description 
— "the valiant men in scarlet;" "the chariots 
jostling one against another in the broad ways ; " 
" seem like torches ; " "run like lightnings." It is 
said that an inundation of the Tigris, combining its 
force with the battering rams of the besiegers, was 
the means of breaking down a portion of the walls, 
thus opening an entrance into the city. This is 
foretold in verse sixth ; " The gates of the rivers 
shall be opened." Verse seventh implies the utter 
overthrow of this queen of cities. Nineveh, like a 
pool of water, had long been undisturbed, and the 
treasures accumulated were immense. The con- 
querors are directed to "take the spoil of silver and 
of gold ; for there is none end of the store and of 
the glory, out of all the pleasant furniture." Then 
Nineveh is declared "empty, and void, and waste." 
A den of lions she had been ; a terror to the na- 
tions ; but having laid waste the heritage of God's 
people, and threatened the little remnant ; the 
Lord declares : "Behold I am against thee : " "and 
the sword shall devour thy young lions." 

Edward. In the third chapter, the sins of this 

18 



274 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

city are enumerated, and woe pronounced upon her. 
With all her wealth and her strong walls, her gates 
should be wide open, and her people as women ; 
" even her captains as the great grasshoppers, that 
when the sun ariseth, flee away, and their place is 
not found." 

Mrs. S. Now, my children, we must keep in 
mind, how mighty was this empire before which the 
nations have fallen ; we must look at Nineveh 
seeming to defy the hand of time, or the efforts of 
man for her destruction ; and yet so swept away, 
that nothing remained to mark the spot where she 
stood. Nothing is too hard for the Lord ; but how 
could man, but by divine inspiration, make known 
what human reason deemed impossible. For cen- 
turies the place where Nineveh stood was uncertain, 
and it is only by the works of art that have been 
disinterred, that the site of this ancient city has 
been made known. 

Edward. I am greatly interested in Rawlinson's 
Historical Evidences. It appears that in these 
ruins of Nineveh, there are records of all the As- 
syrian kings mentioned in the Bible, and that these 
records correspond with those given in the sacred 
writings. These kings are Pul, Tiglath-pileser, 
Shalmaneser, Sargon, Sennacherib, and Esar-had- 
don. Benhadad and Hazael, kings of Syria, are 
also found ; Jehu, Menahem, and Hoshea, kings of 
Israel ; and Hezekiah and Manasseh, kings of Ju- 
dah. The deeds of these kings, which are recorded 



CONVERSATION XXVIII. 275 

in the Scriptures, are here found engraved upon the 
rocks. Thus, these monumental inscriptions, con- 
firm the truth of the sacred volume. 

Jennie. This reminds me of what I read yester- 
day in the New York Evangelist, a description of 
the library of an Assyrian king, which Mr. Layard 
has disinterred from the ruins of Nineveh. His 
books were clay tablets, the records inscribed by 
impressions in the soft clay, and then hardened by 
fire. I was thinking how much I was about to 
learn, when my hopes were dashed ; for it was said 
a whole tablet could not be found, and also an im- 
mense labor to find the pieces that match. Still 
from the pieces, one can learn the subjects of the 
inscriptions. These are History, Astronomy, As- 
trology, Law, Grammar, etc. There is an account 
of the creation, and of the flood. A ship is spoken 
of as resting on the mountains of Nezir, and the 
sending out of the dove that came back, and of the 
raven that did not come back. In the account of 
the creation, it speaks of the formation of cattle 
and other beasts, of the creeping things, of the sun, 
moon and stars ; and then of God's causing some- 
thing to be two — this must be woman made from 
man. On one block are these words : " Babylon — 
confounded — their speech — scattered abroad — their 
counsel was confused/' This truly is an account of 
the building of the tower of Babel. The accounts 
seem like those in our Bible, as far as we can get 
hold of them. 



276 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. This is certainly true, and full of in- 
terest. 

Susie. In the Encyclopedia I found a descrip- 
tion of Sennacherib's palace ; these inscriptions on 
the walls ; Hezekiah — the seige of Lachish — " Sen- 
nacherib came up against all the fenced cities of 
Judah, and took them." 

Mrs. S. You have been well rewarded for your 
research. You will recollect that Zephaniah, Hab- 
akkuk, Obadiah, and Jeremiah, were prophets of 
this century, but neither of them in the reign of 
Manasseh. Zepahniah prophesied in the first part 
of Josiah's reign. Habakkuk in the latter part. 
Both of these prophets predict the judgments about 
to come upon Judah in the captivity by Nebuchad- 
nezzar, as also does Jeremiah. But we will speak 
further of these prophets to-morrow evening. 



CONVERSATION XXIX. 



PROPHECIES OF ZEPHANIAH. OF OBADIAH. HA- 

BAKKUK. — HIS PROPHECIES. HIS PSALM. — JERE- 
MIAH. — HIS COMMISSION. SINS OF JUDAH. 

PROPHECIES OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR. 

OVERTHROW OF JUDAH. THE 

PROPHET IN EGYPT. 

"T "TRS. SELWYN. Zephaniah began to prophesy 
" \ in the first part of the reign of Josiah. He 
declares to the people of Judah their sins, and the 
judgments about to come upon them. 

Edward. He speaks of the " great day of the 
Lord," that is near; "a day of wrath ;" "of trouble 
and distress ; " " of wasteness and desolation," and 
"speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the 
land." This must be the captivity by Nebuchad- 
nezzar. " They should build houses, but not dwell 
in them; plant vineyards, but not eat the fruit." 

Sitsie. He speaks of "the meek of the earth" 
those I think who are in union with their pious 
king, and directs them to " seek the Lord ; " "it may 
be ye shall be hid in the day of His anger." 

Mrs. S. Then the prophet declares the judg- 
ments that shall come upon the oppressors of 



278 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Israel — Moab, Amnion, and the Philistines ; and 
the utter desolation of Nineveh, of which we have 
already spoken. 

Jennie. In the third chapter, he condemns par- 
ticularly the princes, priests, and false prophets 
He calls Jerusalem "a filthy, polluted, oppressive 
city ; " her princes are lions, her judges, wolves, her 
prophets, light and treacherous ; her priests have 
polluted the sanctuary, and done violence to the 
law. 

Mrs. S. But this man of God is permitted to 
look beyond the day of wrath, to the joyful day 
when a remnant of this people, scattered in all lands, 
shall be gathered into the fold of the Redeemer, as 
on the day of Pentecost ; an earnest of the future 
restoration of Israel. 

Susie. Obadiah is a short book. His name 
means "Servant of God." 

Jennie. Is there any way of knowing just when 
he lived ? He does not say who was king. 

Mrs. S. Only by looking carefully at what he 
says. 

Edward. It is a prophecy of Edom, describing 
their joy in the calamities of Israel, and that for 
this sin they shall be utterly destroyed. 

Mrs. S. He describes Judah as invaded by a 
foreign foe, Jerusalem in the power of the enemy, 
and calls it the day of her destruction. This, there- 
fore, must be its overthrow by Nebuchadnezzar, and 
his prophecy must have been written at this time. 



CONVERSATION XXIX. 279 

Edward. Habakkuk lived in the reign of Josiah, 
and I should think also in these troublous times. 
He seems to have been greatly perplexed, as many 
others have been, that the wicked prosper while the 
righteous suffer ; sin and prosperity seeming to go 
together, as well as righteousness and suffering. 

Mrs. S. Yes, while he laments the sins of the 
people, he prays that God would show him why He 
permits the righteous to suffer wrong from the 
wicked. The Lord answers his request, and it 
seems at first like a dialogue between God and the 
prophet. 

Susie. From verse fifth to the eleventh is the 
answer of God to the prophet, and in this he 
reveals his purpose to visit the iniquity of his 
people with judgments. "I will work a work in 
your days which ye will not believe, though it be 
told you." 

Edward. This was the invasion of the Chaldeans. 
They should march through the land and take 
possession ; " their horses swifter than leopards, and 
more fierce than evening wolves." 

Mrs. S. In the prophet's reply we perceive that 
he holds on to the promises of God, and that in 
Him alone is his hope ; yet still in view of the purity 
of God, and His abhorrence of sin, the query still 
comes up ; "Wherefore lookest thou upon them 
that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue 
when the wicked devoureth the more righteous 
than he?" 



280 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. To this complaint an immediate reply is 
not given. 

Jennie. But he says, "I will stand upon my 
watch, and set me upon the tower, and I will watch 
to see what he will say unto me." 

Mrs. S. This I think implies that he will look 
only unto the Lord to solve that which is such a 
mystery to him. Watching and praying, he receives 
a vision from on high, which he is commanded to 
record upon tablets, and so plainly that he may run 
that readeth it. The great truth made known to 
the prophet in this vision, is the key that opens to 
man the treasures of Omnipotence. — "The just shall 
live by his faith." A contrast very striking is drawn 
between the soul that is lifted up trusting in himself, 
and the believing soul trusting in God alone. The 
reward to the believer is life, implying every 
blessing ; to the unbeliever — what can it be but 
death ? 

Edward. Thank you, mother, for this exposition. 
In my reading I have found this thought : This 
great truth is the key-note to three of Paul's 
epistles ; Romans, Galatians and Hebrews ; " and I 
am sure an attentive reading leads one to realize 
this. 

Susie. I am impressed with the thought, that 
faith is the key that opens to us the treasures of 
Omnipotence ; all that we can enjoy in this life and 
in the life to come. 

Mrs. S. And what greater evidence of depravity 



CONVERSATION XXIX. 281 

than to doubt the word of Him who cannot lie ! 
Surely faith is the first obligation of the creature to 
the Creator, and "without faith it is impossible to 
please God." 

Edward. I think the prophet understood this as 
the answer to his query ; and that though to the 
finite mind, "clouds and darkness are round about 
the Lord, yet righteousness and judgment are the 
habitation of His throne." Surely a finite being 
cannot comprehend the purposes of the Infinite. 

Mrs. S. From verse fifth of the second chapter, 
I think we have a description of him whose soul is 
lifted up in himself, and of the retribution that 
awaits the unrighteous. A revelation is doubtless 
given of Nebuchadnezzar, and of the retribution 
that should in the end be visited upon Babylon. 
In pursuing the history, we shall find the prophecy 
of Habakkuk fully verified in the overthrow of that 
city. 

Susie. He closes his prophecy by a prayer or a 
psalm. 

Mrs. S. It is the outpouring of his soul in 
thanksgiving to God. Shigionoth was an instru- 
ment of great power, adapted to tunes of various 
metres, and it would seem that his voice accom- 
panied it in these lofty strains. The tempest of 
doubt in his soul was hushed, and in the triumph of 
faith he recounted the deliverances that the Lord 
had wrought for his people in days of old. 

Edward. I think he is enabled to look through 



252 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

the dark clouds to the brightness beyond them — 
" salvation with the anointed:" thus having a 
glimpse of Christ the anointed One, and that earthly 
things appear so insignificant that he is led to 
exclaim; "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, 
neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labor of the 
olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat ; 
the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there 
shall be no herd in the stalls ; yet I will rejoice in 
the Lord ; I will joy in the God of my salvation." 

Jennie. Jeremiah also lived in these troublous 
times, and I think his feelings were like those 
of Habakkuk ; for while he says, " Righteous art 
thou, O Lord ; " yet he also enquires, " Wherefore 
doth the way of the wicked prosper ; and where- 
fore are all they happy that deal very treach- 
erously ? " 

Mrs. S. Yes ; this state of things was also a 
trial to him. Jeremiah was called to the prophet- 
ical office in the thirteenth year of the reign of 
Josiah, 628 B. C, and he prophesied until the 
captivity of Zedekiah, and the destruction of 
Jerusalem, 588 B. C. Hence he lived through the 
time of his country's greatest tribulation ; being 
also persecuted by Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, who 
would, if they could, have put him to death. The 
book of Lamentations shows how deeply he felt for 
his people, and for the desolations of Zion. He 
was both a priest and a prophet. His home was 
Anathoth, three miles from Jerusalem. 



CONVERSATION XXIX. 283 

Susie. He is said to have been sanctified from 
his birth. His commission as a prophet was given 
him when a child, and he was bidden at once to en- 
ter upon his work. 

Jamie. But his reply was, " Ah, Lord, I cannot 
speak, for I am a child." Then the Lord promises 
to be with him. He touches his mouth, saying, 
"Behold I have put my words in thy mouth." 
This was said by the "Angel of the Lord." 

Mrs. S. Yes ; and this was the commission He 
gave : " See I have this day set thee over the 
nations, and over the kingdoms ; to root out, to pull 
down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, 
and to plant."* Not indeed to do these things, 
but to denounce these judgments upon the nations. 
In the performance he should suffer peril ; but this 
promise was given, " They shall not prevail against 
thee, for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver 
thee." f 

Edward. He obeys, and begins with pointing 
out the sins of Judah, which he declares " written 
with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond ;" 
but he pleads with them to repent, and beseeches 
God to forgive them. 

Mrs. S. The divine answer is, "That for their 
sins in the reign of ManassehJ and for their con- 
tinued disobedience, their lying, robbery, murder, 



*Jer 1 : 10. 
tjer. 1 : 19. 
tjer. 15 : 4 J 2 Kings 24 : 3-4. 



284 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

adultery, Sabbath breaking, and abominable 
idolatry ; God will cast them out of His sight, even 
as He had cast out their brethren the house of 
Ephraim." Nebuchadnezzar is. the enemy that 
shall desolate the land ; and for seventy years the 
whole land should be a desolation.* 

Edward. This invasion of Nebuchadnezzar was 
in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, 606 
B. C, and in this year the seventy years of captivity 
commence. It was at this time that Daniel, and 
other young persons of the royal family were car- 
ried to Babylon. This prophecy of Jeremiah was 
spoken just before the city of Jerusalem was 
besieged and taken by Nebuchadnezzar. 

Susie. In the twenty-fifth chapter, the nations 
Nebuchadnezzar would bring under his power are 
given. They should thus " drink of the cup of the 
Lord's fury." By looking over the map we can 
see that it was all the world as then known. By 
taking Nineveh, his father, Nabopolasser, had 
already got possession of the Assyrian empire, 
called "all the kings of the north." 

Jennie. And, mother, all these nations that he 
should conquer, as well as the people of Judah, 
were to serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 
Do we know that this prophecy was fulfilled ? 

Mrs. S. Why yes, for when there was no king 
of Babylon, they could not serve him, and in 
seventy years this empire was overthrown. 

*Jer. 25 : 11. 



CONVERSATION XXIX. 285 

Babylon, as was predicted, drank of the cup of the 
Lord's fury. But the promise was given only to 
the people of Judah, of restoration to their own 
country ; and it was -for their deliverance that 
Babylon fell, as well as in judgment for her op- 
pression of the people of God. 

Edward. Jehoiakim was very wicked. He hated 
Jeremiah for his faithfulness. His conduct in 
regard to the roll the prophet was directed to write, 
shows his great profanity. Jeremiah being shut up 
in prison, Baruch reads the roll containing his 
prophecies, to the princes and the people. The 
king displeased with it, cuts it with a penknife, and 
throws it in the fire ; as if in defiance of God. He 
then sought to slay Baruch and Jeremiah, but 
"God hid them." 

Susie. Jehoiakim came to a miserable end. 
Josephus says that for rebelling against the king of 
Babylon he was slain, his body thrown over the 
wall, and left unburied. Thus the prediction of 
Jeremiah was fulfilled : " He shall be buried with 
the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond 
the gates of Jerusalem."* 

Jennie. Then Nebuchadnezzar made his son 
Jehoiachin king, but he suffered him to reign only 
three months. He was then carried to Babylon, 
and put in prison, where he remained thirty-seven 
years. Jer. 52:31-34. 

Mrs. S. With Jehoiachin other members of the 

* Jer. 22 : 19. 



286 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

royal family were carried captive, and a large num- 
ber of the people — smiths, carpenters and other 
mechanics. It was at this time the prophet Ezekiel 
was carried into captivity. Jeremiah wrote to the 
captives in Babylon, directing them to settle down 
quietly, to seek the good of the country, and pray 
for it ; giving them God's promise : " Ye shall seek 
me and find me, when ye search for me with all 
your heart."* In the next two chapters are 
promises, not only of a return to their own land, 
but of the coming of Christ, and the blessings of 
the new covenant. 

Susie. This was 599 B. C. Zedekiah was made 
king instead of Jehoiachin. He reigned eleven 
years, a tributary prince, and a very wicked one. 

Edwai'd. Jeremiah suffered greatly in his reign. 
Zedekiah, while he took the oath of obedience to 
the king of Babylon, still sought and obtained aid 
from the king of Egypt against him. The Chal- 
dean army leaving Jerusalem to oppose the Egyp- 
tians, Jeremiah left the city for his home in 
Anathoth. Upon this he was seized on a charge 
of falling away to the Chaldeans, and cast into 
prison. 

Mrs. S. It was on this occasion that the princes 
determined upon his death, cast him into a dun- 
geon where he sunk in the mire, Josephus says, up 
to his neck. From this horrible condition he was 
rescued by means of Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian 

* Jer. 29 : 13. 



CONVERSATION XXXI. 287 

who obtained from the king thirty men to aid in 
drawing him out. 

Edward. Zedekiah seems to have had no mind 
of his own ; some times asking advice of Jeremiah, 
but, fearing the princes, giving no heed to it. The 
prophet assured him that if he would be true to the 
Chaldeans, he would be safe ; but, if not, the city 
would be destroyed. 

Susie. For a time he submitted, but at length 
rebelled; and Jerusalem, after a siege of eighteen 
months, was taken. Zedekiah attempted to escape, 
but was seized, and carried to the king of Babylon, 
then at Riblah. Here the last thing he looked 
upon was the slaughter of his princes and his 
children ; then his eyes were put out, and he was 
carried to Babylon, remaining in prison till his 
death. 

Mrs. S. Jerusalem now became a desolation ; 
the people removed to a far-off land ; the holy and 
beautiful house burned, and the sacred vessels car- 
ried to Babylon. 

Edward. A large number of the people were 
carried to Babylon with Zedekiah. 

Jennie. Nebuzar-adan was left to complete the 
work of destruction. He demolished the buildings 
that remained, and the w r alls, and then carried 
away another company of captives, making four 
companies in all, but the number taken at these 
different times counted together, was only four 
thousand six hundred. 



255 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. The poorest of the people were left, and 
Gedaliah was made governor over them. 

Mrs. S. The king had given direction that 
Jeremiah should be protected, and should do what 
he pleased. He therefore remained with the few 
that were left. 

Edward. But how sad the end of this remnant 
of the people ; Gedaliah with many others being 
slain by that fiendish man, Ishmael ; and Johanan 
who became the leader, in direct disobedience to 
the command of God by Jeremiah, taking them all 
down to Egypt. 

Jennie. I always feel sorry for Jeremiah, the 
good prophet, taken by these wicked men just 
where God had forbidden them to go. 

Mrs. S. But he was faithful to the last in 
warning them, and in making known the judgments 
that would come upon them for their disobedience ; 
that Nebuchadnezzar would invade Egypt, and 
that the king of Egypt, though so friendly, could 
not protect them. 

Edivard. But after hearing the message from 
God and his solemn warnings, they reply : " As for 
the word thou hast spoken to us in the name of the 
Lord, we will not hearken unto thee." 

Jennie. Did Jeremiah die in Egypt ? 

Mrs. S. We do not know, for there is nothing 
more said of him. The prophecies in the close of 
the book were spoken before he was taken down to 
Egypt ; but it was well with him, wherever he was. 



CONVERSATION XXIX. 289 

There are various traditions respecting this com- 
pany that went down to Egypt, but from the Bible 
we learn nothing except that judgments should 
follow those who wilfully disobeyed God's com- 
mands. 

Edward. One tradition is that Jeremiah was 
taken from Egypt to Babylon, but another that I 
have recently heard of is, that by some means this 
company reached Ireland, having with them the 
prophet Jeremiah and the king's daughters. In 
addition to this, the attempt is made to prove that 
Fergus, the founder of the royal family of Scot- 
land, sprung from one of these daughters ; and 
that Queen Victoria is therefore a lineal descendant 
of the house of David. 



CONVERSATION XXX. 



EZEKIEL S VISION. HIS COMMISSION. THE ROLL. 

HIS SECOND VISION. WARNINGS OF THE PRO- 
PHET. HIS SILENCE. PROPHECY OF 

CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION . NEBU- 
CHADNEZZAR'S CONQUESTS. 

1T7TRS. SELWYN. We will this evening look at 
* I Ezekiel and his prophecy. 

Edward. I think his name which means, " God 
strengthens," is the key-note of this book. 

Susie. As that of Isaiah, " God gives salvation," 
is of his glorious revelations. 

Jennie. Why yes — the one proclaiming God's 
wrath ; and the other unfolding the plan of redeem- 
ing love. 

Edward. Ezekiel as well as Isaiah, was called 
to the prophetical office by a vision ; Christ in nis 
glory appearing to each, and giving him his com- 
mission. And now, mother, we look to you to ex- 
plain the vision. 

Mrs. S. The four living creatures which Eze- 
kiel saw, had the likeness of a man, each with four 
faces similar to those which John describes, Rev. 4, 
"a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle : " there were 



CONVERSATION XXX. 291 

also wheels, ancLa wheel within a wheel. The living 
creatures are emblems of the angelic hosts, while 
the wheels full of eyes, indicate the mysteries of 
Divine Providence. 

Jennie. In Revelation, these living creatures are 
called beasts. 

Mrs. S. The word in the original languages 
means living creatures — and should have been 
translated as in Ezekiel. These animals are em- 
blems — the lion of power, the ox of strength, the 
eagle of spiritual sagacity soaring above earthly 
things, and the man of intelligence. Each had four 
wings, also feet and hands ; a wheel upon the 
earth, and wheels within wheels, with rings full of 
eyes, indicating celerity, activity, skilfulness and 
knowledge ; each moved by the same spirit, so that 
when one went, all went. The revolutions of hu- 
man affairs are thus aptly represented ; sometimes 
up, sometimes down, all under the direction of the 
same divine Being, incomprehensible to man, but 
in accordance with His infinite wisdom. Each 
went straight forward, never backward ; their mo- 
tions like a flash of lightning. Above these living 
creatures, was the likeness of a throne, and upon 
the throne, the likeness as of a man, with bright- 
ness as of fire round about, yet blended with the 
color of amber, or as the appearance of the rainbow 
— an emblem of the Word made flesh that we might 
behold his glory. 

Edward. As the prophet beheld this glorious 



292 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

appearance, he fell on his face, but the Lord bade 
him stand upon his feet ; and filled with the spirit 
he stood, and heard the divine commission : " Son 
of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a 
rebellious nation." " Thou shalt speak my words 
unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they 
w T ill forbear." 

Jennie. Ezekiel was with the other captives on 
the river Chebar, a place I believe not far from 
Babylon. It was the fifth year of his captivity. 

Susie. Then he was told not to be rebellious, 
but to do just what he was bidden. 

Jennie. And this was a strange thing ; to eat a 
roll which a hand held out to him. 

Mrs. S. Eating a roll implies studying it ; tak- 
ing it into the mind, as we take food into the stom- 
ach, and digesting it. 

Edward. The roll contained mourning, lamen- 
tation, and woe ; but he was to give the people 
God's message, though they might manifest the 
spirit of scorpions. 

Susie. But he hated to begin, and sat down in 
silence seven days. 

Mrs. S. Zedekiah, you know, was still reigning, 
and Jerusalem not destroyed ; and these captives 
have hope that their nation will yet triumph over 
Nebuchadnezzar. 

Edward. But Ezekiel is to assure them their 
hopes are vain. He is to show it by signs, as well 
as words. 



CONVERSATION XXX. 293 

Jennie. As a watchman, he feels it his duty to 
warn the wicked, or their blood will be upon his 
head. 

Susie. By numerous signs he shows that their 
country will be destroyed, and that their wicked- 
ness has brought these judgments upon them. 

Edward. Then he has another vision. He 
seems to be taken by a lock of his hair, and borne 
through the air to Jerusalem — to the temple ; and 
here has a view of the idolatry still practised by the 
men and women of Judah. 

Mrs. S. He again has a view of the glory of the 
God of Israel, and hears his command to the rulers 
of the city, to come forth for its destruction. Then 
six men appear each with a destructive weapon, 
and one with an inkhorn. This man is to go first, 
and set a mark upon each one who is sighing and 
crying for the abominations around him ; while the 
six are to follow, and to slay all upon whom the 
mark is not found. Here we learn what gives evi- 
dence of being on the Lord's side. The same glo- 
rious appearance is before him, that he had seen by 
the river Chebar ; his heart is lifted up by the 
Spirit, and he speaks with power to a company of 
men that stand before him. 

Jennie. And one of them falls down dead. 

Susie. And Ezekiel cries out : " Wilt thou make 
a full end of the remnant of Israel ? " 

Edward. God gives to him a gracious answer, 
promising to be a " little sanctuary " to His people 



294 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

in the land of strangers, but no promise to those 
who continue in the way of evil. 

Mrs. S. There is a promise of a restoration to 
their own land, and of the Holy Spirit's influence, 
giving them a new heart. 

Edward. There is an allegory in the sixteenth 
chapter, in which the sin of Judah is illustrated by 
unfaithfulness in the marriage relation. 

Mrs. S. Israel and Judah are separately con- 
sidered, and the iniquity of Judah is declared the 
more enormous of the two. Yet while the Lord is 
dealing with her according to her guilt, a gracious 
promise is given : " I will remember my covenant 
with thee in the days of thy youth, and will estab- 
lish with thee an everlasting covenant." 

Susie. This must be the covenant with David, 
that Christ should be of his seed, which should be 
fulfilled. 

Mrs. S. Yes, and that He should be salvation 
to a remnant of God's people, which was fulfilled 
on the day of Pentecost ; for those converted on 
that day were Jews, and they went everywhere 
making known the glad tidings of salvation. 

Edward. The declarations of the prophet 
against Jerusalem, were given before the final siege 
of that city. On the day it commenced, God made 
it known to Ezekiel, with the command that by a 
parable he should represent it to the people. 

Jennie. Let me describe this parable of the boil- 
ing pot. The pot is Jerusalem, and the pieces of 



CONVERSATION XXX. 295 

flesh, the people. The scum not being removed, 
shows that their sins remain after all the tribulation 
they have suffered. The great fire is the fury of 
the Chaldeans ; this instead of leading to repent- 
ance has increased their filthiness. There is there- 
fore no hope, for God's fury rests upon them. 

Edward. This was Ezekiel's last message con- 
cerning the destruction of the city, and the sign of 
this event was the death of his wife. In the morn- 
ing he spake to the people, and in the evening she 
died ; but he should speak no more to them until 
the city was taken ; and this event should be made 
known to him. 

Susie. This, I suppose, is what is what is meant 
by his being dumb, and it was for eighteen months. 

Edward. Perhaps, during these months, God 
makes known to him the judgments that should 
come upon other nations, Egypt, Tyre, Edom, etc. 

Mrs. S. A messenger announces to him the 
fall of Jerusalem,* and again he speaks to the peo- 
ple. He pronounces a woe upon the shepherds of 
Israel ; those who had led them in the way of evil, 
but had not protected them from danger. 

Edward. And then with a glorious view of 
Christ the Good Shepherd, here called, my servant 
David, who shall feed them and be a prince among 
them, the prophet gives promise of showers of 
blessings, and especially of that " Plant of renown, ' 
which must mean Christ ; for thus shall they know 

* Ezk. 33 : 21. 



296 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

that " I the Lord am with them, and they, even the 
house of Israel, are my people."* 

Mrs. S. Then the prophet speaks of the blas- 
phemous triumphing of the heathen over the deso- 
lations of Israel ; and that for this " they shall bear 
their shame." For the evil of their doings the Lord 
had poured out his fury upon his people ; but his 
gracious assurance is, that "for my holy name's 
sake," not for "your sakes O house of Israel," I 
will gather you out of all the countries, and will 
"bring you into your own land." Then comes the 
promise of the new dispensation : " I will sprinkle 
clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean." 
Here is the gospel emblem of the renewing influ- 
ence of the Holy Ghost, which is immediately con- 
nected with the promise of a new heart and a new 
spirit, thus showing how the sinner is to be born 
again, f 

Susie. And in the thirty-seventh chapter, what 
a wonderful display of the power of the Holy Ghost 
is exhibited, when the prophet is bidden in a vision 
to cry unto the dry bones, and to say to them : 
" O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord." 

Edward. How true it is, that every person's 
heart by nature is as dead to all holy affections as 
these dry bones, and that it is only by the power of 
the Holy Ghost, that any one becomes a living 
growing Christian. Is not this Bible truth, mother? 

*Ezk. 34: 23-31. 
t Ezk. 36 : 21-27. 



CONVERSATION XXX. 297 

Mrs. S. Yes my son, it is only by the " washing 
of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy 
Ghost," * that one becomes a new creature in 
Christ Jesus." These bones, the prophet is told 
represent the whole house of Israel ; and the Lord 
declares, when I shall have " put my Spirit in you," 
" ye shall live," and " I shall place you in your own 
land." After this promise, the prophet is directed 
to take two sticks, the one representing Judah, and 
the other Ephraim ; to put them together, and they 
should become one in his hand. Thus we may be 
sure that a remnant of all the tribes of Israel, shall 
be gathered from the nations whither they have been 
scattered, and shall become one in Christ. God's 
promise is : "I will cleanse them, so they shall be 
my people, and I will be their God." 

Jennie. We have no account of the death of 
Ezekiel. The closing chapters of the book were 
written in the twenty-fifth year of his captivity, 574 
B. C. 

Mrs. S. The vision described in the last nine 
chapters is obscure, and I shall attempt no expla- 
nation. 

Jennie. In the twenty-fifth chapter of Jeremiah, 
we have the names of the countries that should 
come under the power of Nebuchadnezzar — do we 
have any history of his conquering these countries ? 

Mrs. S. We do not in scripture history, but we 
know from profane history that all Western Asia 

* Titus 3: 5. 



298 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

and Egypt belonged to his Empire. The desola- 
tion of Tyre and of Egypt is especially described 
by Ezekiel. 

Edward. The countries of the north, or the As- 
syrian empire, came under the power of Babylon 
with the fall of Nineveh. 

Mrs. S. Some of them revolted, and were seized 
by Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, but Nebuchad- 
nezzar stripped him of all the kingdoms he had 
seized. Pharaoh-necho is thought to be meant, 
Ezek. 30 : 21, as one of the strong arms of Egypt 
that was broken. In the next verse it is declared : 
" I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will 
break his arms, the strong, and that which was 
broken ; and I will cause the sword to fall out of 
his hand." The cities of the Philistines fell before 
Nebuchadnezzar, and he besieged and took the city 
of Tyre. 

Edward. But what a siege this was. For thir- 
teen years every effort of this mighty king was 
resisted ; and when the walls gave way, and his 
victorious troops entered the fallen city ; behold 
the rich spoils were not there. 

Jennie. No — for the crafty people had all these 
years been moving. 

Susie. And a new city had sprung up, which he 
though victorious, could not reach without ships. 
And on this island another Tyre arose, that far sur- 
passed the old city on the coast. 

Mrs. S. And now we will read the prophecy in 






CONVERSATION XXX. 299 

Ezek. 29 : 17-20. Nebuchadnezzar, you perceive^ 
had performed the purpose of God in the taking of 
Tyre ; yet for this service of his army, the prophet 
declares that he got no wages ; though " every head 
was made bald, and every shoulder peeled." 
"Therefore, thus saith the Lord God ; Behold I 
will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, 
king of Babylon : and he shall take her multitude, 
and take her spoil, and take her prey, and it shall 
be the wages of his army." Thus God made 
known to the prophet his righteous purposes. He 
declared Nebuchadnezzar His instrument to thresh 
the nations, and to lay upon them such strokes as 
their aggravated guilt deserved. As far as this king 
had performed the work which He required ; for 
this he should receive a suitable recompense, and 
as in this protracted siege, he had spent much, and 
gained nothing ; the land of Egypt, which in its 
distracted state would easily fall into his hands, 
should therefore be his wages. 

Jennie. Now I want to ask if Nebuchadnezzar's 
motive in making his conquests was to please God. 

Edward. I can answer this : it was not, but to 
gratify his own ambition ; and therefore Babylon 
should drink of the cup of God's fury after the 
other nations. 

Susie. And I have a question. I thought Egypt 
was in a prosperous state, and you say it was in a 
distracted state. How was this, mother ? 

Mrs. S. In the reign of Pharaoh-necho, Egypt 



300 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

was in her glory. Although unsuccessful in his war 
with Nebuchadnezzar, yet great things are recorded 
of his conquests, his wealth, and his efforts for the 
increase of commerce, and the elevation of his king- 
dom. The historian says, that there is good reason 
for believing that his fleet sailed round Africa ; 
commencing the voyage by the Red Sea, and re- 
turning through the straits of Gibraltar and the 
Mediterranean. 

Edward. Pharaoh-hophra succeeded him 594 
B. C. It was he who received the company of Jews 
that carried Jeremiah to Egypt, and protected 
them. 

Mrs. S. But he was such an oppressive king 
that his subjects rebelled, and there was a civil war. 
Amasis headed the rebels, and in this state of 
affairs, Nebuchadnezzar invaded the land, laying 
waste the country, and carrying the people captive. 
He made Amasis viceroy. We will to-morrow take 
the prophecies of Egypt and their fulfillment. 






CONVERSATION XXXI. 



INVASIONS OF EGYPT. — PROPHECIES FULFILLED. 

EGYPT UNDER THE TURKS. MEHEMET ALL 

THE PRESENT KHEDIVE. STATE OF THE 

PEOPLE. ANCIENT RELIGION AND 

MODERN.— ROSETTA STONE. AN- 
CIENT RECORDS. SINS OF 

EGYPT. 

"T7TRS. SELWYN. The great contention among 
J I the inhabitants of Egypt, of which we spoke 
last evening, you will find foretold in Isaiah 19 : 2. 
This state of affairs prevailed previous to the reign 
of Pharaoh-necho, as well as during the reign of 
his successor, Pharaoh-hophra. In Isa. 20, the 
invasion of Egypt by the Assyrians is predicted, at 
the time when Sargon took Ashdod, and this we 
found took place. 

Jennie. At this time Isaiah is commanded to 
walk naked and barefoot for three years. Did he 
really go naked three years ? 

Mrs. S. He was to lay off his outer robe, and 
wear only his tunic. This meant going naked ; 
probably on certain occasions he was to do this. 

Edward. He was thus to be a sign, to show the 



302 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

people the folly of trusting in Egypt. Isaiah was 
directed to pronounce a woe upon those who looked 
to Egypt for help, and to assure them, that when 
the Lord stretches out his hand, "both he that 
helped shall fall, and he that is holpen, and they 
shall fall both together."* 

Susie. Jeremiah speaks of the overthrow of 
Pharaoh-necho by Nebuchadnezzar, and then de- 
clares that he should smite the land of Egypt, and 
punish the people, their gods, and their kings ; and 
this he did in the reign of Pharaoh-hophra.f 

Jennie. But the people would trust in Egypt, 
as Tohanan and his company did ; and I suppose 
perished there. 

Edward. Zedekiah also, even though promising 
allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar, sought aid from 
Egypt, and thus lost his kingdom, and became a 
blind captive in Babylon. This conquest of Egypt 
by Nebuchadnezzar is related — as Bishop Newton 
says — by two ancient historians, Megasthenes and 
Berosus. Josephus asserts the same, and also that 
he conquered Moab and Amnion about the same 
time. Egypt was to continue desolate forty years, 
and it was about this length of time before the over- 
throw of Babylon. 

Mrs. S. The prophecies of Egypt, Ezek. 29 and 
30, and Jer. 43 : 8-13, are very important, and we 
will read them. They were spoken before the de- 

* Isa. 31 : 1-3. 
t Jer. 46 : 24-26. 



CONVERSATION XXXI. 303 

struction of Tyre, and the conquest of Egypt was 
after this event, as you will recollect, about 570, 
B. C. The history of Egypt from this time, gives 
evidence of the complete fulfillment of the predic- 
tions recorded in Scripture ; but there are two, that 
I wish to bring especially before you. After fore- 
telling the return of the Egyptians from their cap- 
tivity, Ezekiel declares : * "They shall be there a 
base kingdom." "It shall be the basest of king- 
doms : neither shall it exalt itself any more above 
the nations ; for I will diminish them, that they 
shall no more rule over the nations." "And there 
shalt be no more a prince of the land of Egypt. "f 

Edward. This must mean that Egypt should 
never again be an independent kingdom. Amasis 
succeeded, Pharaoh-hophra, but only as as a viceroy; 
for his name is thus inscribed on a monument at 
Karnac. But can it be, that Egypt has ever since 
the time of Nebuchadnezzar been under foreign 
rule? 

Mrs. S. By consulting history, you will find 
that this is true ; Egypt for more than two thou- 
sand four hundred years has been, and still is, under 
the dominion of a foreign power. 

Susie. I know it passed from the Babylonians to 
the Persians ; though it then had to be re-conquered 
by Cambyses. 
thrown by Alexander, Egypt came under his do- 

* Ezk. 29 : 14, 15. 
f Ezk. 30 : 13. 



304 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. When the Persian empire was over- 
minion ; and in the division of the Macedonian 
empire, she was still subject to Grecian rule. 

Jamie. And when Rome became mistress of the 
world, Egypt must have been under her dominion. 

Mrs. S. This was truly so ; and when Rome 
fell, Egypt came under the power of the barbarian 
invaders. Next the Saracens seized this far-famed 
country, with its treasures of literature and the arts ; 
and then when the Turks took possession of the 
Saracen dominions, she found a new master, though 
not a new religion. 

Edward. And to-day, her distinguished sover- 
eign is a Khedive — a Viceroy under the Sultan of 
Turkey. 

Mrs. S. Here I must speak of Egypt — not as 
she is at the present day — but as she has been un- 
der the dominion of the Turks. The divine pre- 
diction : "It shall be the basest of kingdoms ; " has 
been fully verified since coming under this govern- 
ment ; and especially during the period of her sub- 
jection to the Mameluke Beys. The Mamelukes 
were slaves of the Turks ; and when a Bey died, 
his son did not ascend the throne, but another slave 
was his successor. Under this organized system 
of oppression ; the people became degraded and 
down-trodden, and this country once so renowned, 
seemed lost to the world. 

Edward. The Mameluke Beys must have ruled 
in Egypt when Bonaparte invaded this country. 



CONVERSATION XXXI. 305 

Mrs. S. You are right ; they were in power 
until 1806, when Mehemet AH was appointed Pasha 
of Egypt. He was a Greek, and first distinguished 
himself at the battle of the Pyramids. For forty- 
four years, he managed the affairs of this country. 

Edward. I have often read of Mehemet Ali, but 
I supposed he was an independent sovereign of 
Egypt. I did not know he was under the Sultan. 

Mrs. S. He did rebel "against him, and led an 
army into Syria ; being victorious there, he was 
advancing against Constantinople ; but was pre- 
vented from attacking that city, by the intervention 
of some of the European powers. 

Jennie. But what became of the Mamelukes? 

Mrs. S. Mehemet Ali from the first had great 
trouble with them ; and at length discovered them 
in a plot for his destruction. 

Edward. And this makes me think of the 
slaughter of the Mamelukes by Mehemet h\\. It 
seems to me this was in 1811. Pretending to be 
friendly to them, he got them assembled in the cita- 
del at Cairo, and then caused them all to be put to 
death. 

Susie. What an awful deed ! 

Mrs. S. It was indeed awful. They were, no 
doubt, worthy of death, but the whole Christian 
world were shocked at this wholesale underhand 
butchery. 

Edward. But after he got rid of them, and gave 
up trying to conquer the Sultan, the Egyptians 

20 



306 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

found him a better sovereign than they had ever 
known. He did much to improve and beautify the 
country. Planting of trees was one thing he did. 

Mrs. S. He managed to get the government 
confirmed in his family, and at his death, 1850, 
Ibraham Pasha, his son, succeeded him. 

Edward. The present Khedive, Ismail Pasha, is 
a grandson of Mehemet Ali. He seems even more 
earnest, in promoting the improvement and glory of 
Egypt than his grandfather. Only to think of the 
beautiful buildings he is erecting, of his steamboats 
and railroads : there seems no end of the great 
works he is planning, but he is now in great trouble. 

Mrs. S. Have you read in Dr. Field's letters, 
how all this work is accomplished ? 

Jennie. Yes, I have. It is all done by forced 
labor. The men are compelled to work without 
receiving anything for it ; not so much as their 
food. The women cultivate the land, and bring the 
men their scanty supply of rice or corn ; and if 
they have none to bring, the men must starve. 
How they get a covering for their nakedness, is a 
wonder. They sometimes have to find their own 
tools. This is like making bricks without straw. 

Mrs. S. More than seventy years since Mehemet 
Ali began his work of improvement, and yet what a 
state of wretchedness and degradation among the 
people. A fair show on the outside, but is there 
not rottenness within ? Dr. Field states, that there 
is, however, at the present time, some efforts 



CONVERSATION XXXI. 307 

being made to inaugurate in Egypt a reign of law. 
This will indeed be a new thing, for here surely 
justice has been unknown. 

Susie. The letters of Dr. Field, especially those 
from Egypt, have been to me full of interest. The 
works of the ancient Egyptians, the pyramids, 
sphinxes, temples, and catacombs, how wonderful. 
They must have known the sciences as well as 
the arts. 

Jennie. But what a strange religion they had in 
ancient times ; worshipping all sorts of animals, 
whatever did them good or that did them harm — 
leeks and onions, because so good to eat, and the 
crocodile, because it did so much harm. They 
were truly the most foolish, as well as the wisest of 
people. 

Edward. But the prophets declared that there 
should be a turning to God in this land, and that 
the idols should be abolished. 

Mrs. S. And this prophecy has been fulfilled. 
Egypt was eminently a Christian country after the 
gospel was preached there in the days of the apos- 
tles ; some very distinguished Christian fathers 
lived in Egypt. In the seventh century, the Egypt- 
ians were compelled to embrace the religion of 
Mahomet ; and this has been the religion of the 
country ever since ; although there is an ancient 
Christian church, called the Coptic, still in exist- 
ance. But though ignorant and superstitious, nei- 
ther Mahometans nor Copts tolerate any form of 



30S LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

idolatry. Idols have long since been abolished. 
Thus prophecy is fulfilled. 

Edward. The things predicted of Egypt seem 
just what was least likely to take place. That a 
kingdom so famed for its government and laws ; so 
renowned for a knowledge of the sciences and arts; 
that this should become the basest of kingdoms — 
-how unlikely. Then that the country so long the 
granary of the world, should become impoverished ; 
especially as her own river was the cause of her 
fertility — and looking at her thousands of cities, 
her facilities for commerce and manufactures, her 
immense wealth, and her millions of people — how 
could it be that there should be no more a prince 
in that land ! Yet this was the purpose of God, and 
the prophet was bidden to declare it ; and when 
Jeremiah and Ezekiel were directed to pronounce 
the doom of this fair land ; the destroyer was at the 
very door. 

Mrs. S. And with this evidence of the fulfill- 
ment of prophecy ; who can doubt that these holy 
men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost ? 

Susie. But how little people know of the pro- 
phecies ; and how little effort is made by teachers, 
to show from history the fulfillment of prophecy. I 
knew nothing at all until we began these conversa- 
tions. 

Jennie. The other day, I asked Miss D., How 
can we prove that the Bible is from God ? and she 
said she was sure she did not know. Then I told 



CONVERSATION XXXI. 309 

her that the fulfillment of prophecy proved this ; 
but, said she, "I do not know anything about the 
fulfillment of prophecy." I thought that a Sunday- 
school teacher ought to know. 

Mrs. S. But if you had been asked this question 
a year ago, you could not have answered any better 
than she. 

Susie. The Egyptians, I think, believed in the 
immortality of the soul. 

Mrs. S. They believed in transmigration, that 
when a person died, the soul entered the body of an 
animal ; perhaps that it might return sometime to 
its own body, and therefore took pains to preserve 
it. 

Edward. They must then have thought some 
animals had souls, for instance, their sacred bulls. 
This accounts for that gallery at Sakkara, twenty 
feet wide, twenty in height, extending a third of a 
mile under ground, with recesses for sarcophagi 
hewn out of the rock — and for whom ? For the 
sacred bulls ! — the images of thirty-three are stand- 
ing here. 

Jennie. But I would rather hear something of 
the wonders above ground — the ruins at Thebes, 
Karnac, and Luxor. 

Edward. This reminds me of what I have been 
reading in Harper s Magazine. On the south wall 
of the temple at Karnac, a king, Sheshonk or Shi- 
shak, is represented as taking possession of captured 
cities and countries, with a host of captives — one 



3IO LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

man standing out plainly, and under him the name, 
Melek Aiudah — King of Judah, and within an oval 
are hieroglyphics representing fortifications taken, 
and a country conquered. Now, Jennie, turn to 
II. Chron. 12, and read the history of Rehoboam's 
being conquered by Shishak, the treasures of the 
temple being seized, Jerusalem, and all his fenced 
cities in the hands of the victorious monarch. The 
names of one hundred and thirty-three of these 
cities are inscribed on this wall, the date the same 
as in the Bible — 970 B. C. This is surely worth 
knowing. 

Jennie. How can these ancient inscriptions be 
read ? 

Mrs. S. It is only by means of the Rosetta 
Stone that this has been accomplished, and it was 
some years after its discovery before any use was 
made of it. Champollion was the genius who 
found it a key to unlock these mysteries. 

Edward. I will give the girls a description of it. 
Upon this stone, of which here is a picture, are in- 
scriptions in three languages — Hieroglyphics, De- 
motic or Ancient Egyptian, and the other in Greek. 
The idea suggested was, that each language might 
record the same fact, and, if so, the Greek would 
explain the others, and thus a key be obtained for 
deciphering these mysteries. There were proper 
names in each version, that of Ptolemy often oc- 
curring. By comparing the words containing the 
same sounds, Champollion found them represented 



CONVERSATION XXXI. 311 

by the same characters, and thus discovered the 
rudiments of an alphabet, hieroglyphics giving the 
same idea. Thus records made three thousand 
years ago, and in a dead language, have been read, 
and have proved a confirmation of sacred history 
and chronology. 

Susie. How truly the very stones cry out against 
the infidels of our day. 

Mrs. S. This is true, for while infidels were 
advancing the idea, that these structures are older 
than the Bible account of the Creation, it has been 
found that the oldest inscription is dated one hun- 
dred and fifty years after the flood. 

Edward. Champollion stated that he could 
prove by the dates, that the shepherd kings were 
reigning in Egypt in the time of Joseph. They had 
conquered the country, and therefore shepherds 
were "an abomination to the Egyptians."* The 
family of Israel were very kindly treated by these 
kings. Joseph's name in the Egyptian records, 
means " Saviour of the world." Moses says, a king 
arose that knew not Joseph ; and the records state 
that at this time, the Egyptians expelled the shep- 
herd kings, and established a dynasty of their own 
people. It is not therefore strange that as Moses 
relates, the Israelites were brought into bondage, 
and made to perform hard labor. 

Mrs. S. Several others might be named beside 
Champollion, as Burton, Wilkinson and Rossellini, 

* Gen. 46 : 34. 



312 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

who have engaged with much success in deciphering 
these records of antiquity. The name of Rhamses 
is given, and the date of his death is the same as the 
departure of the Israelites from Egypt. 

Susie. Did you learn anything of Sesostris ? 

Edward, Rossellini says he was the founder of 
the nineteenth dynasty, and that he reigned while 
the Israelites were in the wilderness. This accounts 
for his not being mentioned in the Bible. He is 
said to have made conquests. 

Jennie. I suppose the territory of Egypt, or the 
valley of the Nile, was more extensive anciently 
than it is now ; for the sands of the desert have 
gradually been deposited in this valley. Dr. Field 
says that the valley is now only six miles wide, and 
that beyond this fertile region nothing green can be 
seen. 

Susie. Why have such judgments fallen upon 
Egypt ? 

Mrs. S. By searching the Scriptures, you will 
find that it is for their pride, and their contempt of 
the God of Israel. Egypt first oppressed God's 
people, then seduced and deceived them. This 
penalty was therefore pronounced upon this fair 
land, that she should be the basest of kingdoms ; 
and to-day, after more than two thousand four hun- 
dred years, the penalty still rests upon her — " no 
more a prince of the land." 



CONVERSATION XXXII. 



PROPHECIES OF TYRE. ANCIENT GREATNESS. — SINS 

OF TYRE. CARTHAGE. GLORY OF THE NEW 

CITY. A CHRISTIAN CITY. ALEXANDER'S 

SIEGE. PROPHECIES FULFILLED. PRE- 
SENT STATE. SERMON PREACHED 

BY THESE RUINS. 

TTRS. SELWYN. Egypt was probably the last 
* I country conquered by Nebuchadnezzar ; but 
we will now retrace his steps, and look upon the 
nations that had fallen before him. 

Susie. We have been greatly interested in 
searching out the prophecies of Tyre. 

Edward. These prophecies are given by Isaiah, 
Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. They relate to the con- 
quest of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, and also of the 
New Tyre, that rose after the fall of the old city. 

Mrs. S. Yes, in Ezek. 26, the siege of Nebu- 
chadnezzar is described, and also the present con- 
dition of the city that rose from its ruins. 

Jemiie. The new city that this crafty people had 
built, became vastly superior to the old one in 
strength, as well as in wealth and magnificence. 
Rollin says, its walls were one hundred and fifty 



314 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

feet high, the foot of the wall being washed by 
the waves of the sea. 

Mrs. S. Before considering the prophecies, we 
will take a look at this queen of cities, and the 
mother city, Zidon. 

Jennie. Yes, Isaiah calls Tyre, " the daughter of 
Zidon," because, I suppose, founded by her. I 
think the daughter got ahead of the mother in the 
race for glory, but the mother took pride in her 
child. 

Susie. Tyre and Sidon were the chief cities of 
Phenicia, so famous in ancient times. The whole 
country as far as Gaza on the south, was settled by 
Canaan the son of Ham ; and his son Sidon found- 
ed the city of Sidon. This was the land of Canaan 
given to the Israelites, but they never took these 
cities. Sidon is one of the oldest cities in the 
world, and Tyre was a strong city in the days of 
Joshua. 

Edward. In the time of David and of Solomon, 
we find that Tyre was distinguished for her wealth 
and her knowledge of the arts, particularly of ship 
building and navigation. We learn also from pro- 
fane history, that Cadmus a Phenician, first carried 
letters into Greece ; also that Carthage was founded 
by Dido, a daughter of the king of Tyre ; and that 
these cities were famed for their commerce. We 
know that the ships of Tyre were the first that ever 
spread their sails upon the sea, and that she early 
became the mart of the nations. How early we do 



CONVERSATION XXXII. 315 

not know, but it was before the time of Solomon, for 
by his alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre, he had a 
navy, and was thus enabled to bring treasures from 
distant regions. Their skill in architecture was also 
an aid to him in the erection of magnificent buildings. 

Jemiie. The Tyrians were also distinguished for 
their rich and splendid manufactures ; as for 
instance the Tyrian purple, so long considered 
necessary for royal robes. 

Susie. Ezekiel, chap. 27, gives a grand view of 
her commercial greatness ; naming the countries 
with which she traded. The people of these 
countries are called her merchants ; and their 
articles of merchandise are given. I should think 
her trade extended to every part of the world 
as then known, both by land and by sea. She was 
really the England of Asia. 

Edward. Tyre was indeed the emporium of the 
world, and the wealth thus accumulated was im- 
mense. 

Mrs. S. And so transcendent for her wealth, 
her wisdom, and her beauty ; she was lifted up with 
pride, saying " I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, 
in the midst of the seas ; " " therefore thus saith 
the Lord God, because thou hast set thine heart 
as the heart of God ; behold therefore I will bring 
strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations : 
and they shall draw their swords against the beauty 
of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.* 

* Ezek. 28 : 2, 6, 7. 



316 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. This prophecy was spoken three years 
before the siege by Nebuchadnezzar commenced ; 
but I have found in Amos i : 9, 10, one that was 
given two hundred years before this time ; in which 
for their breaking the covenant — I suppose that 
made with David and Solomon — God bids the pro- 
phet declare ; *' I will send a fire on the wall of 
Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof." 

Jennie. I have found one Joel 3 : 4, 8, in which 
Tyre and Zidon are charged with having taken sil- 
ver and gold belonging to God, and also having 
sold the children of Judah to the Grecians ; and 
for this, it is declared that their children shall be 
sold to a nation far off. 

Edward. At the time these predictions were 
spoken, nothing could seem more improbable than 
that a city of such amazing strength, and such 
abundant resources, should fall into the hands of 
the enemy. Isaiah also foretells the overthrow of 
Tyre one hundred and thirty years before this siege 
by Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet begins by tell- 
ing the ships of Tarshish to " howl, for Tyre is laid 
waste so that there is no house, no entering in." 
This shows the city to be besieged and in a state of 
ruin. But I was curious to know what place was 
meant bv Tarshish, a city that would suffer so 
much from the ruin of Tyre. I could not think it 
was Tartessus, in Spain ; so I searched, and was 
delighted to find that where our translation gives 
Tarshish, the Septuagint gives Carthage. As Car- 



CONVERSATION XXXII. 317 

thage was the commercial city founded by a colony 
from Tyre, I thought she must be greatly affected 
by the downfall of Tyre ; I did not therefore won- 
der that the prophet bid her howl. I knew that the 
women and children of the Tyrians were at this very 
time in Carthage, having been sent there for safety. 

Mrs. S. In this prophecy of Isaiah, after speak- 
ing of the distress occasioned by the shutting up of 
Tyre, and in reply to the exclamation ; " Who hath 
taken counsel against Tyre the crowning city ; " 
the prophet declares ; " The Lord of Hosts hath 
purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to 
bring into contempt the honorable of the earth." 
He also names the Chaldeans — at that time less 
powerful than the Assyrians, as the instrument of 
her destruction. 

Susie. He also says ; " Tyre shall be forgotten 
seventy y£ars." Will you tell me what is known of 
the fulfillment of this ? 

Mrs. S. You know that while the old city was 
destroyed, a new city had arisen ; but it was not 
until the overthrow of Babylon, and under the Per- 
sians in the reign of Darius Hystaspes — whom Tyre 
had aided in his invasion of Greece — that the ob- 
structions to her trade were removed, and she 
became what old Tyre had been, the queen of the 
sea. This was just seventy years ; and from this 
time, and for one hundred and seventy years, she 
was the emporium of the world, even more renown- 
ed than the old city had ever been. 



3l8 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. Then it was, as Isaiah says ; " Tyre 
shall sing as a harlot." 

Edward. But I want to know when it was, that 
" her merchandise and her hire" were " holiness to 
the Lord," as Isaiah says it shall be. 

Mrs. S. This was in the days of the apostles. 
A Christian church was then founded in Tyre. 
You must recollect Paul's visit to Tyre, Acts 21 : 
3-6 ; his spending seven days there ; the disciples 
accompanying him to the ship, and when about to 
separate, their kneeling down on the shore and 
praying together. At this time Tyre was still a 
commercial city, and it continued for some centu- 
ries a place of considerable trade. 

Edward. Alexandria in Egypt was a rival, but 
Tyre was the emporium until Venice became the 
great commercial city of Europe. 

Susie. Now we want to know the present condi- 
tion of Tyre. 

Mrs. S. But we must first look at New Tyre 
in her glory, and also at her downfall. With 
her strength of fortification, and her immense re- 
sources, she seemed to defy the power of any foe. 
But the decree had gone forth from the King of 
kings, that this city exalting itself against the God 
of heaven should be laid low ; and the appointed 
instrument for accomplishing this purpose, in His 
own time stands before the lofty battlements. 
Flushed with his triumph over the Persian mon- 
arch at the battle of Issus, Alexander determines to 



CONVERSATION XXXII. 319 

take possession of this city of the sea. His ambi- 
tion is to rule the world ; and this proud mart of the 
nations, must therefore be brought under his do- 
minion. But how shall this mighty work be accom- 
plished ? At her distance from the shore, his 
engines for battering down her walls, are useless ; 
and he has no fleet. Does he give up in despair ? 

Edward. Not he — he knows no such word as 
fail. His genius comes to his aid, and he contrives 
a method of causing the land and the city to meet. 
Here are the ruins of old Tyre, her prostrate walls, 
her broken down towers, her mighty edifices, all in 
heaps. With these massive ruins, he resolves to 
construct a causeway from the shore to the island ; 
and thus, though unknown to him, he is fulfilling 
the prediction of the prophet ; " They shall lay thy 
stones, and thy timbers, and thy dust in the midst 
of the water;"* and so much material is needed 
for this great work, that everything is used, and 
they even " scrape the dust from her, and make her 
like the top of a rock/'f In constructing this mole, 
obstacles met them that would have led any one 
else to give up in despair ; but the spirit of the 
commander inspired his men ; and the efforts of 
the enemy to ruin their works, only increased their 
ardor. Once, when nearly completed, the mole was 
submerged, but it rose again as if by magic, and it 
proved in the end a complete success. 

* Ezek. 26 : 12. 
\ Ezek. 26 : 4. 



320 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. As we read this narrative, we are amazed 
that Alexander should have persisted in his pur- 
pose, but it was the purpose of God ; and he was 
but the instrument. Though he meant it not, yet 
he was performing a work for Him who has all 
power in heaven and on earth ; and the means for 
its accomplishment were at hand. When he need- 
ed ships ; they were furnished by neighboring cities 
from fear of his power ; so that the walls were en- 
compassed on all sides, and the siege was pressed 
with a determination not to yield. But the resistance 
made by the infuriated people was as unexampled in 
the annals of warfare as his efforts ; for they 
resorted to expedients that till then had been un- 
known. There was, however, no hope for this 
doomed city. The burning sand did indeed drive 
the besiegers from the walls ; yet the victory was 
gained by a pitched battle at sea, and the city was 
entered by the conqueror. The siege lasted seven 
months. 

Jennie. The inhabitants were slaughtered with- 
out mercy ; yet the people of Sidon, though fight- 
ing for Alexander, contrived to save the lives of 
fifteen thousand Tyrians. These men managed, 
after a time to get back to their city, and to send to 
Carthage for the women and children, who had 
there been protected. 

Edward. When Rome became mistress of the 
world, Tyre came under her dominion. Then she 
fell under the power of the Saracens, and lastly 



CONVERSATION XXXII. 321 

under the Turks. Under this despotic government, 
Tyre has sunk to the condition foretold by the pro- 
phet ; " a place for the spreading of nets in the 
midst of the sea."* There are broken walls, pil- 
lars, vaults, but not one entire house remaining. 
And here, Susie, is the answer to your question : 
What is the present state of Tyre ? The prophecies 
are all fulfilled. 

Mrs. S. Dr. Porter, wandering among these 
ruins, says: "Along the shores lie huge sea-beaten 
fragments of the old wall, and piles of columns. 
They are as bare as the top of the rock, and here 
and there I saw the fishermen spreading their nets 
upon them to dry in the bright sunshine. When I 
saw them, I sat down on one of the highest frag- 
ments, and read with mingled feelings of wonder 
and of awe the words of Ezekiel ; " "I will make 
thee like the top of a rock:" "Thou shalt be a 
place to spread nets upon." Thus Tyre is a stand- 
ing witness of the truth of the Bible. 

Edward. But those who reject the Bible give 
but little regard to this evidence of its truth. The 
infidel Volney had read the prophecies of Ezekiel; 
but how different his reflections from those of Dr. 
Porter. 

Jennie. Among the sins for which Tyre is con- 
demned, is this : "Because Tyre hath said against 
Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of 
the people ; I shall be replenished, now that she is 

* Kzek. 26: 5. 
21 



322 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

laid waste." Here she is rejoicing because her 
wealth will be increased by the affliction of God's 
people. 

Susie. Another sin is, that she had gloried in 
her wisdom and beauty, and in the multitude of her 
precious things, instead of giving the glory to God ; 
for this, judgment is pronounced against her ; " I 
will cast thee so profane out of the mountain of 
God ; " "I will cast thee to the ground, never shalt 
thou be any more." 

Mrs. S. What a sermon is preached by these 
ruins, when looking upon what Tyre once was, and 
the cause of this desolation. 

Edward. Ought not our country to take warning 
from Tyre ? A spirit of boasting is truly with us a 
national sin, and what is this but taking the glory 
to ourselves, instead of giving it to God ? Then 
with the increase in wealth and national prosperity, 
is there not an increase of corruption ? So it seems 
to me ; and I cannot but feel the force of a remark 
of Mr. Keith ; that " while all the world should 
listen to the voice of God from the ruins of Tyre, 
those who have succeeded to her commerce should 
especially give heed to the warning." With the 
same temptations, they fall into the same sins ; and 
are they not in danger of the same judgments ? 

Mrs. S. Our privileged nation, founded in faith 
and prayer, has indeed departed far from God. 
As she has increased in magnitude and in resources, 
her thousands multiplied into millions, she has 



CONVERSATION XXXII. 323 

gloried in her own might, instead of ascribing the 
glory to Him to whom all glory is due. The Sab- 
bath trampled upon ; the attempt to banish the 
Bible from the schools ; our statesmen seeming to 
imagine human reason at the helm, sufficient to 
steer the ship of state — what have we not reason to 
fear ? These are dark forebodings, but there is one 
darker still ; its influence more dangerous than 
all others combined. What — you enquire can this 
be ? What — but defection among the professed 
followers of Christ ? Let every member of the vis- 
ible church be true, never deserting the ranks, nor 
parleying with the enemy ; but on all occasions 
maifesting the spirit of the Master, and follow- 
ing in His fooosteps, even Satan is dismayed. But, 
my children, ever keep in mind, that individuals 
give character to the nation ; that each is responsi- 
ble for his own character and influence ; remember 
your standard is Christ — your marching orders — 
" Follow me." 



CONVERSATION XXXIII. 



NATIONS CONQUERED BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR. MOAB 

AND AMMON. SPITE AGAINST ISRAEL. FOR 

WHAT CONDEMNED. PENALTY. PROPHE- 
CIES OF THESE NATIONS. COMPLETE 

FULFILLMENT. 

C^USIE. Jeremiah gave the names of other na- 
4 tions that should drink of the " cup of the 
Lord's fury, beside Judah, Tyre and Egypt. They 
were to drink at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar — be 
conquered by him. We know that all the " kings 
of the North " were under his dominion ; for with 
the fall of Nineveh, the empire of Assyria came 
under Babylon. But we have had no account of 
his conquering Moab, Amnion and Edom. 

Mrs. S. There is no account in the Bible of any 
conquest of these countries. They probably were 
under Judah, and with her fell under the power of 
Nebuchadnezzar. I think the cities of the Philis- 
tines were taken by him during the years he was 
besieging Tyre. We know from history, that his 
empire included all the countries from the Caspian 
Sea and Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. "The 
mingled people that dwelt in the desert," were 



CONVERSATION XXXIII. 325 

probably kingdoms that made but little resistance 
to his arms. 

Edward. I have been looking at the prophecies 
of Amnion and Moab. Jeremiah — Chap. 48 — pre- 
dicts the destruction of Moab, and 49 : 1-6 of 
Amnion. 

Mrs. S. You know the origin of these two 
nations ? 

Jennie. Yes, mother, Moab and Amnion were 
sons of Lot. 

Susie. They were small kingdoms on the east of 
the land of Israel. Their territory, though small, 
was rich and productive, with many strong cities. 

Mrs. S. Moab and Ammon as well as Edom, 
looked upon Israel with envy and malice ; from the 
time of Balaam ever seeking her destruction. 

Jennie They accused the Israelites of taking 
their possessions from them. Was this true ? 

Mrs. S. It was not, but this is the way it was. 
Sihon, king of the Amorites, had taken cities from 
Moab and Amnion, and the Israelites by conquer- 
ing Sihon, got posession of all his dominions, these 
cities as well as others ; Ammon therefore laid hold 
of what rightfully belonged to Israel, since it had 
once been his. This sentence was, therefore, pro- 
nounced upon Ammon by the prophet* Kabbah, 
his capital should be a desolate heap, and her daugh- 
ters — the smaller cities — burned with fire. Even 
the valleys in which they had gloried, so fruitful, so 

*Jer. 49 : 2. 



326 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

safe, should be desolate, the people carried captive 
and the country a desolation. 

Edward. Ezek. 25 : 1-7 is a prophecy against 
Amnion ; declaring that because of his joy when the 
temple of Jerusalem was profaned, the land of 
Israel desolated, and her people carried captive ; 
" I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a 
possession " — this must be to Nebuchadnezzar. 
Rabbah shall be "a stable for camels," the whole 
country " a couching place for flocks," the people 
" cut off, caused to perish, and utterly destroyed " — 
and why ? " Becaused thou hast clapped thy hands, 
stamped thy foot, and rejoiced in heart with all thy 
despite against the land of Israel." 

Susie. A spirit of injustice and cruelty seems 
always to have been the spirit of the Ammonites. 
When Saul was made king, they were at war with 
the tribes nearest to them. In great alarm the men 
of Jabesh-gilead proposed to make a covenant with 
Nahash, the king, and to serve him ; but no covenant 
would he make, only as each man would " his right 
eye thrust out." In consternation they beg a re- 
spite of seven days, and apply to their king for aid. 
Saul's promptness saved the men of Jabesh and 
brought these oppressive neighbors to submission. 

Edward. David brought these kingdoms, Am- 
nion, Moab and Edom, under complete subjection. 

Jennie. Moab invaded Israel in the reign of 
Jehoram, and Judah and Edom aided him against 
them. You recollect that when Elisha supplied 



CONVERSATION XXXIII. 327 

water by a miracle, the Moabites thought the water 
was blood ; so imagining their enemies had des- 
troyed each other, they marched boldly against 
them, to their own destruction and the laying waste 
of their country. 

Mrs. S. But the most wonderful destruction of 
the armies of these three nations, was when Jehosha- 
phat met them singing praises to God, and they fell 
upon each other so that none were left. 

Edward. The Edomites revolted against Judah 
in the reign of Jehoram, but Amaziah subdued the 
revolt, destroying an army of twenty thousand. 

Susie. But nothing seemed to subdue their spite 
against the Israelites. Moab and Amnion sought 
the destruction of Judah in the reign of Jehoiachin, 
and rejoiced, as Jeremiah says, in the triumph of 
Nebuchadnezzar, and the destruction of Jerusalem. 
It was the Ammonites that led Ishmael to murder 
Gedaliah, and the company of Jews that were placed 
under him. 

Jennie. I think these nations were so nearly 
swept away, that Nebuchadnezzar did not have to 
make much effort in subduing them. 

Mrs. S. You will find many more prophecies 
against these nations. 

Ediuard. Zephaniah, Chap. 2: 8-1 1, speaks of 
"the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the 
children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached 
my people ;" and that " Moab shall be as Sodom, 
the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the 



328 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

breeding of nettles, and salt-pits, and a perpetual 
desolation." 

Susie. The sins of Moab were haughtiness, 
pride, wrath against God's people. 

Jennie. Not only was Moab " exceeding proud," 
but he " magnified himself against the Lord." He 
shall be in derision, for was not Israel a derision to 
him ? The prophet speaks of his skipping for joy 
at the calamities of Israel. 

Edward. And how fearful the penalty pro- 
nounced upon this people. Not only should the 
country be laid waste, but "the spoiler shall come 
upon every city," — "no city shall escape;" "the 
cities shall be desolate without any to dwell therein." 
I could name many more prophecies, but I wish 
now to ask the question : Are these prophecies ful- 
filled, and can we give the evidence of this fulfill- 
ment ? 

Mrs. S. All travelers agree in their testimony 
of the complete desolation found in these countries, 
but Dr. Porter seems to have explored this region 
east of Jordan with special care ; and in his obser- 
vations to have been impressed with the fulfillment 
of prophecy. We have before referred to his work. 
" The Giant Cities of Bashan." He says, " The land 
is utterly desolate ; in a word, the whole of Bashan 
and Moab is one fulfilled prophecy." " The fields 
are waste, the cities abandoned, houses without in- 
habitants, sanctuaries deserted, vineyards, orchards^ 
and groves destroyed." Kerioth, a city of Moab, 



CONVERSATION XXXIII. 329 

with dwellings such as giants would build, is deso- 
late. The houses — roofs, doors, window shutters, 
as well as the walls — are all of stone, and all without 
an inhabitant. While the country was once rich 
and productive, and cities so strong as seeming to 
defy the power of man ; we can see that "judgment 
is come upon the plain country," and the curse of 
an angry God has fallen upon " all the cities of the 
land of Moab, far and near." 

Susie. The frequent heaps of ruins, I suppose, 
show how numerous were her cities in ages long 
gone by. The soil is still rich, but nothing rowing 
only weeds and tall grass ; not even trees. The 
black tents of the Bedouin, and their swarthy in- 
mates give the only sign of life. 

Jennie. The Bedouins do not cultivate the land, 
and it would be of no use for anyone else to do it, 
for these robbers of the desert would lay hold of 
everything. 

'Edward* In regard to Amnion, the prophecy of 
Ezekiel is exactly fulfilled. The inhabitants are all 
cut off. The land of Amnion is a " couching place 
for flocks," and Rabbah, her capital, is a " stable for 
camels." In my search after evidence of the ful- 
fillment of Ezekiel's prophecy, I came upon a little 
book: "Region of Fulfilled Prophecy," by Wylie ; 
in which he gives this statement. " This country 
lies untilled, and being covered by a rich sponta- 
neous herbage, it has drawn hither countless swarms 
of Bedouins. Thus as you journey over Amnion, 



3$0 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

you behold only shepherds with their flocks. The 
country has become one wide fold ; every part of it 
is thus occupied, its ruins, the banks of its streams, 
the open plain, all are a couching place for flocks." 
Then of Rabbah it is said : " The ruins of Rabbah 
are occupied just as the prophet foretold." "There 
is a stream of clear water running through it ; and 
the Bedouins drive their camels down here by hun- 
dreds, not only to drink, but to be stabled in the 
ruins." The place, Lord Lindsay informs us, has an 
intolerable stench from the bones and carcasses of 
dead camels that lie rotting in it. Thus do camels 
dwell where princes once dwelt. How wonderful 
this fulfillment of prophecy. 

Mrs. S. In Ezek. 25: 1-10, we find a history of 
the Amnion of to-day. Rabbah, a stable for camels, 
and the whole country a couching place for flocks, 
the people of Amnion all cut off ; neither Moabite 
nor Ammonite anywhere to be found. Thus see 
the justice of God exhibited in the judgments visited 
upon those who set their faces against his people, 
and who rejoice in their calamities. 

We will close for this evening, although we have 
not occupied the usual time as other duties demand 
my attention. To-morrow evening we will take up 
prophecies of Edom and their fulfillment. 



CONVERSATION XXXIV. 



SPIRIT OF ESAU AND EDOMITES. HEIGHT ATTAINED 

BY EDOM. PROPHECIES OF EDOM.- — DESCRIP- 
TION OF PETRA. PROPHECY. THOUGHTS 

OF STEVENS. FULFILLMENT OF PROPH- 
ECY IN ISRAEL AND EDOM. IN 

THE BEDOUIN ARABS. 

CTUSIE. I have been absorbed in searching out 
'X prophecies of Edom and their fulfillment, so 
that I have hardly thought of anything else all day. 

Jennie. I have been looking at Esau's sins. I 
used to wonder why Paul called Esau a profane per- 
son, but I see it now ; he despised the spiritual 
blessings promised to him who had the birthright. 
The same impious spirit appeared in his posterity, 
a sort of spite against God's people, because of the 
favor they received from God. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Not that they desired the Divine 
presence, any more than Esau desired the privileges 
conferred by the birthright. He cared more for the 
mess of pottage, than for being the ancestor of Him 
in whom " all families of the earth should be 
blessed;" and though in the sale of the birthright 
there was a fair bargain, yet he taunted his brother 



33 2 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

with having taken it from him. So the Edomites 
had an envious hatred of the Israelites, and took 
every opportunity they could to injure them. 

Edward. Making the Israelites go around their 
country instead of going through it, and threatening 
if they dared to enter, to come out against them ; 
showing the same spirit that Esau did, when he 
went against his brother with four hundred men. 
Jacob's wrestling prayer was heard, and God took 
away Esau's disposition to do him harm ; so, though 
Edom would have destroyed the Israelites, God 
enabled them to keep this proud' nation in subjec- 
tion ; never but once gaining independence, and this 
in accordance with prophecy. 

Mrs. S. The Edomites, however, were permitted 
to become a rival to Egypt in works of art, and a 
knowledge of the sciences. Their history indeed is 
not so well known ; but " the book of Job, as Mr. 
Keith says, " is as splendid and lasting a proof of 
the eloquence that pertained to Edom, as magnifi- 
cent palaces hewn out of the cliffs, are indestructi- 
ble memorials of their power." God in infinite 
wisdom may have caused this kingdom to rise to a 
lofty height, to increase the greatness of its fall ; and 
to give evidence to the world that superior knowl- 
edge unaccompanied by religious principles, is not 
a foundation upon which to build, either for time 
or for eternity. 

Edward. The prophecies of Edom are so re- 
markable, that we should read them very carefully. 



CONVERSATION XXXIV. 333 

Susie. And then bring the proofs of their fulfill- 
ment. 

Mrs. S. This is the proper course. Stevens' 
Travels is what you need for reference, and this we 
have in our library. 

Edward. I have been reading his description of 
the ruins of Petra. 

Mrs. S. This you will please read to us, after 
giving prophecies. 

Jennie. I will read Joel 3 : 10, " Edom shall be 
a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the 
children of Judah, because they have shed inno- 
cent blood in their land." 

Susie. Let me read Mai. 1 13, 4 : "I hated Esau, 
and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for 
the dragons of the wilderness. Whereas Edom 
saith we are impoverished, but we will return and 
build the desolate places ; thus saith the Lord of 
hosts : they shall build, but I will pull down ; and they 
shall call them the border of wickedness, the people 
against whom the Lord hath indignation forever." 

Edward. I will read some passages from Oba- 
diah, " Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and 
though thou set thy nest among the stars ; thence 
will I bring thee down, saith the Lord," " And the 
house of Israel shall be a fire, and the house of 
Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble ; 
and they shall kindle in them, and destroy them ; 
and there shall not be any remaining of the house 
of Esau." 



334 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. I will read selections from Jer. 49: and 
then Edward may read Stevens' description of the 
ruins of Petra. " I have sworn by myself, saith the 
Lord, that Bozrah, the strongly fortified city, shall 
become a desolation, a waste, a reproach, and a 
curse ; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual 
wastes." " Also Edom shall be a desolation ; every 
one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall 
hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow 
of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighbor cities 
thereof, saith the Lord, no man shall abide there, 
neither shall a son of man dwell in it." Now Ed- 
ward you may read. 

Edward. Stevens, in 1836, visited this desolate 
region, and thus he writes of Petra. " Nothing can 
be finer than the immense rocky rampart that en- 
closes Petra — strong, firm, immovable, as nature 
itself. The city was in a valley about two miles in 
circuit, surrounded by mountains. There is but 
one way of entering this valley, and that is through 
a chasm in the mountains, two miles long, narrow, 
and overhung by frightful precipices. This rocky 
rampart seems to deride the walls of cities, and the 
loftiest portals ever raised by the hand of man. 
The city itself is now a waste of ruined dwellings, 
palaces, temples, triumphal arches, all prostrated 
together in undistinguishable confusion. At the 
doors of this city I now stood, a city that goes back 
to the time of Esau ; that city which had eight kings, 
and a long line of princes, before any king reigned 



CONVERSATION XXXIV. 335 

in Israel. I looked upon the vast arena, filled with 
ruined buildings and heaps of rubbish, and saw the 
mountain side cut away so as to form a level sur- 
face, and presenting long ranges of doors in suc- 
cessive tiers or stories, as the front of a large and 
beautiful temple. Though coming directly from 
the banks of the Nile, where the proudest of temples 
excite the admiration of every traveler ; we were 
roused and excited by the extraordinary beauty of 
this giant temple of Petra. It is hewn out of the rock, 
with rows of Corinthian columns and ornaments, 
standing out fresh and clear, as if but yesterday 
from the hands of the sculptor. The whole temple, 
its columns, ornaments, porticoes, porches, are cut 
out from the solid rock. 

" Leaving the open space and following the stream, 
we enter a defile, on each side of which are ranges 
of tombs with sculptured doors and columns ; and 
on the left in the bosom of the mountain, hewn out 
of the solid rock, is a large theatre circular in form, 
the pillars in front fallen ; with thirty-three rows of 
seats, capable of seating more than three thousand 
persons. The whole theatre is in such a state of 
preservation, that if the tenants of the tombs around 
it, could once more rise to life they might take their 
old places on its seats, and listen to their favorite 
player. 

"Day after day these seats had been filled with the 
gay and pleasure seeking, and the now silent rocks 
had echoed to the applauding shout of thousands ; 



336 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

and little did these ancient Edomites imagine that 
a solitary stranger from a then unknown world, 
would be wandering among the ruins of their proud 
and wonderful city, meditating upon the fate of a 
race forever passed away. But we need not stop at 
the days when a gay population were crowding to 
this theatre. In the earliest periods of recorded 
time, long before this theatre was built, long before 
the tragic muse was known ; a great city stood here. 
When Esau having sold his birthright for a mess of 
pottage, came to his portion among the mountains 
of Seir, and Edom growing in power and strength 
became presumptuous and haughty, until in his 
pride when Israel prayed for a passage through his 
country ; Edom said to Israel : i Thou shalt not 
come by me lest I come out against thee with the 
sword.' Amid all the denunciations against the land 
of Idumea, her cities and their inhabitants, this 
proud city among the rocks, doubtless for its extra- 
ordinary sins, was marked out for extraordinary 
judgments." 

Mrs. S. And now, Edward, with the desolations 
of Edom in full view, let us read the words of the 
inspired penman, when Edom was in her glory. 
Isaiah 700 B. C. declares of Idumea : " From gene- 
ration to generation it shall lie waste ; none shall 
pass through it forever and ever. But the cormor- 
ant and bittern shall possess it, the owl also and the 
raven shall dwell in it, and he shall stretch out upon 
it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. 



CONVERSATION XXXIV. 337 

They shall call the nobles to the kingdom, but none 
shall be there, and all her princes shall be as nothing. 
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles 
and brambles in the fortresses thereof ; and it shall 
be a habitation for dragons, and a court for owls."* 
More than one hundred years later Ezekiel de- 
clares of Edom: "As thou didst rejoice at the in- 
heritance of the house of Israel because it was 
desolate, so will I do unto thee ; thou shalt be 
desolate. Mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of 
it."f Now, Edward, give us Mr. Stevens' thoughts. 
Edward. Mr. Stevens says : "I would that the 
skeptic could stand as I did, amid the ruins of this 
city among the rocks, and there open the sacred 
book, and read the words of the inspired penman, 
written when this desolate place was one of the 
greatest cities in the world. I see the scoff arrested, 
the cheek turn pale, his lips quivering, and his 
heart quaking with fear, as the ruined city cries 
out to him in a voice loud and powerful as that of 
one risen from the dead ; though he would not be- 
lieve Moses and the prophets, he believes the hand- 
writing of God himself, in the desolate and eternal 
ruin around him. ,, 

Susie. To think of the former greatness and glory 
of Edom, and then look at its desolation ; how we 
are impressed that the Bible is the word of God — 
its present state so exactly foretold when she was in 
her glory. 

* Isa. 34: 10-13. 
fEzek. 35: 15. 

22 



33& LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. I see not how one can compare the 
prophecies concerning the posterity of the two 
brothers, Israel and Esau, with the fulfillment, and 
not be convinced of its divine inspiration. Of 
Israel it is declared : " The Lord shall scatter thee 
among all people from the one end of the earth 
unto the other."* Of Esau: " There shall not be 
any remaining of the house of Esau."f Now look 
at the facts respecting these two nations. The 
Jews, the descendants of Israel, are found in every 
land, a separate and unmixed people ; but where is 
found an Edomite ? Not one is found on his own 
land, and traverse the globe, not one is found. 
Another lesson we learn : " The Most High ruleth 
in the kingdoms of men ; setting up one and putting 
down another ; and His curse rests upon the 
nation that resists His will, or that lays the hand of 
oppression upon His people, and rejoices in their 
calamities. 

Edward. Surely this truth is loudly proclaimed 
by this fortified city, the wonder of the world — the 
palaces and temples hewn out of the cliff are there, 
but the people no more ; the silence of death reigns 
in these lofty halls. The robber of the desert 
alone dares intrude into the solitary dwellings of 
Esau. 

Jennie. And these robbers of the desert — their 
hands against every man, and every man's hand 

*Deut. 281-64. 
tObadiah 18. 



CONVERSATION XXXIV. 339 

against theirs," are a continuous fulfillment of the 
Divine declaration concerning the posterity of 
Ishmael. 

Edward. Yes, these Bedouin Arabs, without any 
question the posterity of Ishmael, are a scourge to 
all the neighboring nations. Few travelers visit the 
land of Edom. Mr. Stevens found inscribed on 
the rocks of Petra, five or six names of travelers, 
English or French, but not one American. The 
whole country is such a desolation, that there is 
little to tempt one to visit it. Once it was the 
favorite route to India for the caravans, but now it 
is avoided, none pass through Edom ; thus fulfill- 
ing the prophecy : u None shall pass through it for- 
ever and ever." 

Jennie. With good reason they avoid this route, 
for Keith says the ruined cities abound with scor- 
pions and other dangerous reptiles, and fowls of 
ill-repute, as the cormorant, owl and bittern. 

Susie. But the robbers of the desert are more 
dangerous to the traveler than even the venomous 
reptiles. 

Edward. Petra — in Hebrew, called Sela, was the 
capital of Idumea, but there were a great many 
other cities. The prediction of Ezekiel is : "I will 
make it desolate from Teman."* Burchardt says: 
Teman, now called Maon, is the only city in Edom 
now inhabited ; from Teman through the whole of 
Idumea, there is nothing but desolation. Within 

* Ezek. 35, 13. 



340 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

three day's journey of the Dead Sea thirty ruined 
cities can be seen. The whole country is covered 
by a drifting sand, so that even cities are buried. 
Volney says that Idumea was inhabited by a pow- 
erful people when Jerusalem was destroyed by the 
Romans, and that they were an industrious and 
commercial nation. 

Jennie. But, mother, by whom was Edom des- 
troyed ? 

Mrs. S. Edom was in subjection to Judah until 
the captivity ; but after that changed rulers, as did 
the other kingdoms of western Asia. In the second 
century after Christ, Idumea was known as a 
Roman province, and Petra its capital ; but we find 
nothing said of it in history after that time; and 
nothing seems to have been known of the land of 
Edom until it was explored by Burchardt in i8ii, 
and then found in this state of desolation. 



CONVERSATION XXXV. 



DAMASCUS. ITS AGE AND ITS CHANGES. FULFILL- 
MENT OF PROPHECY. A BRIGHT SCENE. PHIL- 
ISTINES. PROPHECIES. PRESENT STATE OF 

EKRON. OF ASHDOD. OF ASHKELON. 

OF GAZA. THE SHEIK'S STORY. 

GATH. 

CTUSIE. The order of the evening is, I believe, 
'X prophecies of Damascus and the Philistine 
cities, and their fulfillment. 

Edward. Syria was not given to Israel, as it was 
settled by Aram the son of Shem. It was Canaan, 
the son of Ham, upon whom the curse rested. 
Damascus the capital was founded by Uz, the son 
of Aram. 

Jennie. Damascus is then one of the two oldest 
cities in the world ; Sidon and Damascus, both 
founded by great-grandsons of Noah. 

Mrs. Sehuyn. Four thousand years old, and yet 
in a pretty good condition. 

Edward. I can find no prophecy of the entire 
destruction of Damascus ; but it should fall into the 
hand of enemies. 

Jennie. Dr. Porter says it has been taken twelve 



342 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

times, and every time has risen with new beauty 
from its ashes. 

Edward. In Jer. 49 : 23, 24, there is a prophecy 
that I cannot understand. It speaks of feebleness 
and distress in Damascus, and of " sorrow on the 
sea." 

Mrs. S. This I will explain. The sorrow on 
the sea is the siege and destruction of Tyre. This 
grievously affected Damascus, because her prosper- 
ity and wealth depended upon her commerce with 
this city. Turn to Ezek. 27, and you will find the 
cities and countries that traded with Tyre — read 
verse eighteenth. 

Edward, [reads.] " Damascus was thy mer- 
chant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, 
for the multitude of all riches ; in the wine of Hel- 
bon and white wool." 

Mrs. S. Thus you perceive how disastrous to 
Damascus was the downfall of Tyre — no market for 
her wine and wool, and she could no longer obtain 
the rich manufactures of that Queen city. Other 
parts of Syria exported precious stones, fine linen 
and embroidered work, so that Syria was a com- 
mercial country. 

Edward. I find another prophecy of Damascus, 
Amos 1 : 3-5, in which is declared, that for her sins 
judgment shall come upon her. One sin was her 
cruelty to the inhabitants of Gilead ; thrashing them 
"with thrashing instruments of iron." For this sin 
with others ; " he that holdeth the sceptre shall be 



CONVERSATION XXXV. 343 

cut off," and the people carried into captivity to 
Kir. This was spoken fifty years before Damascus 
was taken by Tiglath-pileser, when the king was 
slain and the people carried to Kir, just as Amos 
had foretold. 

Mrs. S. Let us compare the prophecies of 
Edom and of Syria, especially of the two chief 
cities, Petra and Damascus. How convincing the 
proof that the prophets spoke as they were moved 
by the Holy Ghost. Could short-sighted man have 
foreseen the strongholds of Edom a desolation, 
while Damascus exposed to the same enemies, 
should still have a place among the nations ? 

Edward. Damascus with her great age is still 
beautiful. In drawing near to the city, " the white 
dwellings, green gardens, and streams from the 
mountains, bursting upon the sight, seem like the 
revelation of an Eden in its beauty." It has been 
called " the eye of the earth," and " the reflection 
of Paradise." Dean Stanley says ; " There maybe 
views more beautiful, but there can hardly be an- 
other so beautiful and instructive ; " it brings with 
it so many scenes of interest, and names so eminent 
in the world's history. 

Susie. The place where St. Paul entered upon 
his life-work for Christ, is thought to be about five 
miles from the city. The house of Annanias and 
of Judas are still shown to the traveler, and so is 
the street called Straight — about half a mile long. 

Jennie. In regard to the real beauty of Damas- 



344 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

cus, Dr. Schaff says, that " distance lends en- 
chantment to the view ; " for if you enter the city* 
"you will find it a labyrinth of narrow, crooked and 
dirty streets, crowded with men, donkeys and dogs." 
It is four days from Damascus to Beirut — the only 
carriage road in Syria — unless another has been 
made lately. 

Susie. Damascus has seen much suffering, and 
may yet see more. I have been reading Dr. Por- 
ter's account of the massacre of i860. It was a 
Mahometan plot, and the crime for which thous- 
ands perished was, that they called themselves 
Christians and not Mahometans. 

Mrs. S. I will now give you the view of a scene 
that will cheer you, in this very city of Damascus. 
It is in a large and roomy house called " St. Paul's 
school." Here are rows of girls, Moslems and 
Jewesses, as well as Christians, sitting side by side, 
each with a Bible in hand studying its sacred pages. 
A Christian minister in visiting this school, thus 
describes the scene : "The girls sang pretty hymns? 
and then the whole of them listened to my address, 
one translating it, sentence by sentence, as also a 
prayer." Ten years only after the massacre, and 
here a school in which the Bible is taught to girls. 

Jennie. And girls had been thought no more 
capable of learning than a cat. 

Mrs. S. Do you ask how such a change has 
been wrought ? The special instrument was a 
woman — a widow — like Dorcas of Apostolic times, 



CONVERSATION XXXV. 345 

moved by sympathy with the widows and orphans 
of Syria, she devoted herself with all her soul to 
their relief. " She began in the city of Beirut, with 
a few widows and orphans as a temporary refuge in 
the midst of their misery and destitution." While 
she supplied their temporary wants, and did all in her 
power to relieve their present distress, yet realizing 
the worth of the soul, and that earthly good things 
could not supply its need, she opened to them the 
fountain of life, and invited them to share the gospel 
feast. Many united in these labors of love, and 
many were the schools established ; over which this 
large-hearted mother spread her protecting wings. 
This school in Damascus was one of these centres 
of light, which still sends forth its beams upon this 
dark land. In the tenth year of her labors, her 
strength failed, and she was bidden to enter the 
heavenly rest — to her "the gate of glory." Mrs. 
Bowen Thompson — how many call her blessed ! 
Though not numbered with the great ones of this 
world, yet she is numbered with those, who, having 
turned many to righteousness, shine as the stars 
forever and ever in the world of glory. There is 
much more that I would like to say of her, but 
we will now consider the prophecies of the Philis- 
tines. 

Edward. Jeremiah, chap. 47, declares that Gaza 
and Ashkelon shall especially suffer from Nebu- 
chadnezzar. He calls him the "sword of the Lord," 
and exclaims ; " How can it be quiet, seeing the 



346 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon and 
against the sea shore." 

Mrs. S. The invasion of Philistia was probably 
during the siege of Tyre, for the prophet speaks of 
"the day that cometh to spoil the Philistines, and 
to cut off from Tyre and Zidon every helper that re- 
maineth." 

Susie. Another prophecy I find in Ezek. 25 : 15. 
The sins which would be the cause of this destruc- 
tion are given ; " revenge, and vengeance with a 
deceitful heart." Their hatred against Israel was 
an old hatred ; and for this, great vengeance should 
be executed upon them. 

Edward. I will read Amos 1 : 6-8, " Thus saith 
the Lord ; For three transgressions of Gaza, and 
for four, I will not turn away the punishment there- 
of ; because they carried away captive the whole 
captivity, to deliver them up to Edom : But I will 
send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour 
the palaces thereof : And I will cut off the inhabi- 
tant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre 
from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against 
Ekron : and the remnant of the Philistines shall 
perish saith the Lord." Amos prophesied when 
Phenicia and Philistia were in their glory. 

Jennie. Dr. Porter says, that from Joppa to 
Gaza was only forty miles, and it was but fifteen 
miles from the sea to the mountains of Judah ; a 
little country, but it was the garden of Palestine. 

Susie. Let us travel with Dr. Porter through 



CONVERSATION XXXV. 347 

Fhilistia, that we may see the fulfillment of proph- 
ecy. We will commence our journey at Ekron, 
now called Akir. It was from Ekron that the ark 
of God was sent back to Israel on a new cart drawn 
by two cows without a driver, their calves shut up 
at home. They went straight to Bethshemesh in 
Judah. Dr. Porter says, this was ten miles. It was 
through the valley of Sorek where Delilah, who 
tempted Samson, lived. Zorah, Samson's home, 
was near Bethshemesh. 

Edward. The prophecy of Ekron, in Zeph. 2 : 4 
is, " Ekron shall be rooted up." Then Ekron was 
beautiful and flourishing, now, Dr. Porter says : 
" Akir is a wretched village containing some forty or 
fifty mud hovels ; its narrow lanes encumbered with 
heaps of rubbish or filth." No vestige of royalty 
remains, its beauty is gone, as the prophet declared. 

Jennie. Leaving Ekron, how pleasant to pass 
the bands of reapers, and the girls gleaning after 
them. One can hardly help looking out for Ruth, 
and of taking one of the rich owners for Boaz. 
The salutation — " The Lord be with thee ; " and 
the response — " The Lord bless thee " — how like the 
olden time. Now we are drawing near to Ashdod. 

Mrs. S. It was at Ashdod, you know, in the 
temple of Dagon, that the ark of God was first 
placed. Believing it to be the God of Israel, they 
placed it with their God. But though only an ark, 
it was sacred, and the people soon felt the power of 
Israel's God in the judgments that fell upon them. 



348 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. Yes — Dagon, their great fish-god, half 
man and half fish — fell down before the ark, his head 
and arms broken off. Then the emerods — little in- 
sects I suppose — so tormented them that they had 
to send the ark away. 

Susie. And the people of Gath had to take it, 
but they suffered so much from these insects, that 
they could not keep it, and the Ekronites took their 
turn, but they soon contrived a way to send it 
home. 

Edward. Ashdod was a royal city and its walls 
of great strength ; as you remember it stood a 
longer siege than any other city, even twenty-nine 
years. 

Mrs. S. Now where this city stood ; there is 
only a " confused group of mud hovels." " Hungry- 
looking men, and squalid women were lounging in 
the dirty lanes," and on the roofs of their " miserable 
dwellings," says Dr. Porter ; and as he looked upon 
them, he was reminded of the prophecy of Zecha- 
riah ; " A bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will 
cut off the pride of the Philistines." A mass of 
ruins is all that remains of this once proud city : 
and surveying from an eminence the sea coast, he 
saw just what the prophet says should be there, 
"dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds 
for the flocks." The vineyards, groves, and fields 
of grain covered by the drifting sand, recall the 
woe pronounced by Zephaniah ; " Woe unto the 
inhabitants of the sea coast ; the word of the Lord 



CONVERSATION XXXV. 349 

is against thee, O Canaan, the land of the Philis- 
tines ; I will even destroy thee, and there shall be 
no inhabitant." 

Susie r Soon the jagged cliffs of Ashkelon come 
into view. This was a wonderful city, rising like 
an amphitheatre from the sea. 

Edward. But now, what a scene of desolation 
meets the eye of the traveler. Not a house, nor 
fragment of a house standing ; not an entire foun- 
dation of palace or temple can be seen ; for even 
the ruins are buried in heaps of sand. Opening his 
Bible, Dr. Porter reads to his companions the doom 
of Ashkelon, as pronounced by the prophets Zeph- 
aniah and Zechariah. " Ashkelon shall be a deso- 
lation." " Ashkelon shall not be inhabited." " The 
eye of the omniscient God alone could have fore- 
seen a doom like this ; " is the thought that comes 
home to the traveler ; " the words of these prophets 
must be the word of God." 

Mrs. S. In our tour with this interesting traveler, 
we have been impressed with the fulfillment of what 
the prophets declared respecting the land of the 
Philistines. Three of these five great cities we have 
visited. We will now go with him to Gaza, three 
hours from Ashkelon — distances thus reckoned in 
this oriental clime. 

Susie. I know three prophecies of Gaza that we 
have not given. " The king shall perish from 
Gaza." Zech. 9 : 5. " Baldness is come upon Gaza." 
Jer. 47 : 5. " Gaza shall be forsaken." Zeph. 2 : 4. 



3SO LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Then the prophecy that we gave was ; u I will send 
a fire upon the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the 
palaces thereof." I do not find any prediction of 
its entire destruction. Now, Edward, please give 
Dr. Porter's description of Gaza at the present 
time. 

Edward. Dr. Porter says ; *' Gaza now contains 
about fifteen thousand inhabitants. It seems like a 
cluster of villages." A hill upon which one stands 
he thinks a mound composed of ruins ; as portions 
of massive walls, and the ends of old columns may 
be seen cropping out from the rubbish. The city 
has no walls. 

Mrs. S. Gaza is shorn of her glory, but she is 
Gaza still. These cities came under the power of 
Nebuchadnezzar, but we have no history of the 
conquest. 

Jennie. The old Sheik's story of Samson's car- 
rying off the gates of Gaza is full of interest ; the 
tradition is so like the Bible account. He says the 
giant carried the gates, posts, bar and all to the top 
of a hill which overlooks Hebron, just according to 
the Bible record. 

Edward. Dr. Porter speaking of his ride from 
Gaza to Judea, ' says, as in Acts, " it is desert ; " 
and here the simoon overtook them. Had they not 
found a shelter they might have perished. Horses 
as well as men were glad to find a refuge from its 
blasts. 

Mrs. S. And the old place that they reached 



CONVERSATION XXXV. 35 I 

was Lachish, one of the five cities that Joshua con- 
quered on that memorable day when the sun and 
moon stood still, obedient to his command. It was 
the place from whence Sennacherib sent Rabshakeh 
to good king Hezekiah, with that blasphemous mes- 
sage against the God of Israel, and it was at Libnah, 
a place very near, that the army of this proud king 
slept the sleep that knows no waking. 

Edward. And mother, I could not help think- 
ing, as I read Dr. Porter's account of the simoon, 
that this fearful blast might have been the means 
used by God for the destruction of this great army: 
that thus the angel of death breathed in the face 
of the sleepers, so that they waked no more. How 
easy for God to accomplish his designs. 

Susie. Gath was one of the cities of the Philis- 
tines, but there are no prophecies against Gath. 

Mrs. S. Gath had probably been conquered by 
Judah before the prophets received these Divine de- 
nunciations. Gath, like the others, is now in ruins. 

Edward. Gath was near the land of Judah. Dr. 
Porter was quite sure that he found the ruins of 
this old city on the height of a mountainous ridge, 
two hundred feet from the valley below. Here 
were numerous remains of ancient buildings. 

Jennie. Dr. Porter visited many places of inter- 
est in this vicinity ; one the valley of Elah, where 
David killed Goliah. 

Mrs. S. But these scenes of interest, for this 
evening, we must leave. 



CONVERSATION XXXVI. 



THE PROMISED LAND. PREDICTIONS FULFILLED 

TESTIMONY OF VOLNEY. CAUSE OF THIS 

DESOLATION. CONDITION OF JEWS. A 

REMNANT TO BE SAVED. JERUSALEM 

OF THE PRESENT DAY. 

JTT DWARD. We have gone all around the good 
"^H. land which God gave to Abraham's chosen 
seed ; with Bible in hand comparing prophecy with 
the descriptions given by travelers ; and have every 
where found the prophecies fulfilled. 

Susie. Yes the prediction of each particular city, 
a prediction of just what it is now ; one a stable for 
camels, another a barren rock upon which fisher- 
men spread their nets ; another, with massive 
structures without an inhabitant ; and others collec- 
tions of hovels, the picture of desolation itself. 

Jennie. In Edom, Moab, Amnion, Syria and 
Philistia, three only of their renowned cities are 
still in existence. Damascus, Sidon and Gaza; and 
in searching the prophets, we find their total ruin 
is not predicted. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Thus at every step the evidence 
that the Bible is the word of God, has become 



CONVERSATION XXXVI. 353 

stronger and stronger, for surely short-sighted man 
by his unassisted reason, could not have forseen the 
exact condition in the distant future of each par- 
ticular place. Let us now enter the promised land 
and compare its present state with the Divine 
declarations. 

Jennie. This is just what we wish to do. 

Edward. But we shall find few of those to whom 
it was given in the fatherland. 

Mrs. S. And thus at the very entrance the 
scripture truth is verified ; for to be scattered 
among all nations was the prediction of Moses more 
than three thousand years ago v Isaiah, Jeremiah 
and Ezekiel utter also these prophetic w r ords : 
" The land shall be desolate and the cities a waste. "* 
We have looked upon the giant cities of Bashan, 
and found them without an inhabitant, and the 
territory of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, a wilder- 
ness ; we now cross the Jordan and survey the land 
that was said to flow with milk and honey. 

Jennie. This was a proverb, I suppose, denoting 
great fruitfulness. The Greeks called it a garden, 
and several ancient authors speak of its great fruit- 
fulness and the multitude of its cities. 

Susie. But whatever is now the state of the 
country, at every step we shall be reminded of Jesus, 
and of the wonders of love that he here performed. 
Let us visit Capernahum, where for the three years 
of his ministry he dwelt. 

* Lev. 26: 31-33. Isa. 1:7. Jer. 4 : 26-27. Ezek. 12 : 20. 
23 



354 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. We shall only find a mass of ruins. It 
was as you know on the north shore of the Sea of 
Galilee. It is not now called Capernahum, but 
Tell Hum, using only the last syllable and Tell a 
word that signifies a ruin. 

Edward. Chorazin and Bethsaida are near, and 
they are also in ruins. Thus the woe pronounced by 
our Saviour upon these cities, has come upon them. 

Susie. How sacred this spot, and this sea upon 
which the Saviour walked, and where he hushed 
the tempest into a calm. 

Mrs. S. Scenes of interest in every direction 
make us wish to linger and dwell upon them, but 
our special object is to compare the declarations of 
the prophets with the present aspect of the country. 
Dr. Porter speaks of ruins, thorns, thistles and 
scenes of desolation, that met his view, as a com- 
mentary upon the words of a prophet : " Upon the 
land of my people shall come up thorns and briars, 
yea upon all houses of joy in the joyous city, be- 
cause the palaces shall be forsaken, the multitude 
of the city shall be left, the forts and towers shall be 
for dens forever, the joy of wild asses, a pasture of 
flocks/' 

Edward. He says, as well as other travelers that 
in passing through the country, it is sometimes 
difficult for horses to make their way through the 
tangled grass, and tall thistles, for there are no 
roads ; " The highways are desolate, the wayfaring 
man ceaseth."* 



Isa. 32 : 13, 14. Isa. 33 : 8. 



CONVERSATION XXXVI. 355 

Jennie. The valley of Esdraelon, which was the 
rich inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, where they 
should find " treasures hid in the sand ; " Mr. Wylie 
says, is " a vast expanse of uncultivated fields, 
and ruined cities, deserted and solitary as the 
desert." 

Susie. But in the vale of Shechem we can find 
remains of its former beauty, groves of oranges and 
figs, and cultivated fields, though the city of Sa 
maria on the hill is in ruins. 

Mrs. S. Your speaking of the beauty of this 
valley reminds me of a prophecy of Isaiah, who, 
after speaking of " the glory of Jacob being made 
thin," says : "Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, 
as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries 
in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in 
the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the 
Lord God of Israel."* This, Mr. Keith says, im- 
plies that some vestige of its former abundance, the 
gleanings of its ancient glory, would be still visible. 
He gives ancient Sychar as an instance ; its delight- 
ful and fragrant bowers, its rich gardens and fruit- 
ful trees. 

Jennie. There are other beautiful spots, as the 
valley of St. John near Jerusalem, containing views 
that seem "like Edens in a desert." 

Edward. But desolation expresses the state of 
the country better than any other word. The cities, 
so many of them in ruins, the land badly tilled, or 

* Isa. 17 : 6. 



356 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

not at all ; while its very luxuriance causes an 
enormous growth of briars, thorns and thistles ; even 
the fruit trees often inaccessible on account of 
this troublesome vegetation. There are a few 
wretched inhabitants, though the wild Arabs seem 
to have the most complete possession. In the 
valleys, their black tents and their flocks are the 
most common sight. " There are neither roads nor 
even bridges in the interior" says Volney, "and not 
a wagon or a cart in all Syria." This was one hun- 
dred years ago. I have seen it stated by recent 
travelers, that there is but one carriage road in all 
Syria ; that from Beirut to Damascus. There is 
however, a plan made for a railroad from Jaffa to 
Jerusalem, as I believe. 

Jennie. Your speaking of Volney reminds me 
of something that seems very interesting to me. It 
is the declarations of the prophets with the state- 
ments of Volney proving their fulfillment ; arranged 
in parallel columns. It was thus arranged by the 
Rev. Lyman Abbott. It was the more interesting 
to me, knowing that Volney was an infidel, and 
therefore had no desire to prove the truth of the 
Bible. It was of course the state of things one 
hundred years ago. I have copied the words of the 
prophets with the statements of Volney proving 
their truth. May I read it? 

Mrs. S. Certainly my child. 

Jennie, [reads.] 



CONVERSATION XXXVI. 357 

The words of the Prophets : The Statements of Volney : 

. "The stranger" "from a far "I wandered over the coun- 

land shall say:" "Wherefore try. Great God! from whence 

hath the Lord done thus unto proceed such melancholy revo- 

this land? What meaneth the lutions? Why are so many cities 

heat of this anger ?" destroyed ? " 
Deut. 29 : 22, 24. 

"Everyone that passeth by " So feeble a population in so 

shall be astonished." excellent a country, may well ex- 

Jer. 18 : 16. cite our astonishment." 

"Your highways shall be des- " There are neither highways 

olate." Lev. 26:22. nor bridges." 

"The wayfaring man shall " Nobody travels alone." 
cease." Isa. 33 : 8. 

"All the merry-hearted shall "To hear their plaintive 

sigh." Isa. 24: 7. strains, it is almost impossible to 

refrain from tears." 

"The mirth of the land is "The inhabitants never 

gone." Isa. 24:11. laugh." 

" Upon the land of my people " The earth produces only 

shall come up thorns and briars and wormwood." 
briars." Isa. 32 : 13. 

"Because they have trans- " God has doubtless proclaimed 

gressed the laws, shall the curse a secret malediction against the 

devour the earth." Isa. 24: 5, 6. earth." 

"I will bring your sanctua- "The temples are thrown 

ries unto desolation." down." 
Amos, 7: 9. 

"The palaces shall be for- " The palaces are demolished." 
saken." Isa. 32 : 14. 

"I will destroy the remnant " The ports are filled up." 
of the seacoast." Ezek. 25 : 16. 

"I will make your cities " The towns are destroyed." 
waste." Lev 26 : 31. 

" Few men are left." Isa. 24 : 6 " The earth is stripped of its 

inhabitants." 



358 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Now, mother, there is something I want to have 
explained. I cannot see the cause of such desola- 
tion in a country once the garden of the world. I 
know it is in consequence of the curse of God ; but 
have there been any natural causes to produce this 
state of things ? The sword, the famine, and the 
pestilence, have done their work ; and the chosen 
seed are scattered ; but why do not the people who 
now live there, cultivate the land ; why are the 
cities waste, and the highways forsaken ? 

Mrs. S. Your query, Jennie, is natural, and I 
will give what explanation I can. Jeremiah says 
the land shall mourn " from the wickedness of them 
that dwell therein," and Ezekiel declares : " I will 
bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall 
possess their houses ; I will also make the pomp of 
the strong to cease, and their holy places shall be 
defiled."* We therefore infer that those who would 
take possession of the land should produce these 
dire effects. Do you ask who this people are ? For 
more than twelve centuries, Palestine has been 
under the Moslems, and in the hands of Turks— a 
worse government not known. It is a double 
tyranny, a military despotism, and a religious des- 
potism ; a religion of man's devising. Let a hus- 
bandman put seed into his ground, he knows not 
who will gather the harvest, for there are no laws to 
protect him or his property ; and why should he 
cultivate the soil ? 
* Ezek. 7 : 24. 



CONVERSATION XXXVI. 359 

Edward. The people say of those in power, that 
they do nothing but collect the taxes. And in ad- 
dition to the despotism and rapacity of the ruler, 
their exposure to the robbers of the desert, leaves 
them without hope. 

Jennie. The Pasha seems to have no regard for 
justice nor mercy ; and the Bedouin not only 
plunders, but comes with his flocks to eat up their 
pastures. 

Mrs. S. " The spoiler " has indeed "come upon 
all their high places." 

Susie. This land has never been independent 
since conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. 

Edward. No ; for at the return from the cap- 
tivity, under the Persians ; next under Alexander ; 
and in the division of his empire it became a great 
battle-field, being claimed by the kings of the North 
and the South, as predicted by Daniel. Then 
when Rome became mistress of the world, Pales- 
tine was one of her provinces. 

Mrs. S. Since the rejection of the promised 
Messiah ; the putting to death of the Son of God ; 
the curse they invoked — " His blood be upon us 
and our children," — has been visited upon them in 
judgments more fearful than were ever endured by 
any other people. 

Edward. The attempt to throw off the Roman 
yoke led to that siege of Jerusalem rivaling all others 
in scenes of carnage and blood. 

Mrs. S. Scattered among all nations, the proph- 



360 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ets declare what should in other lands be their con- 
dition. Edward you may turn to Deut. 28, Susie to 
Lev. 26, and Jennie to Jer. 24, and we will look 
upon their condition in the lands in which they were 
to be scattered, and read the description. 

Susie, [reads.] " I will scatter you among the 
heathen, and draw out a sword after you." "And 
upon them that are left alive of you, I will send a 
faintness into your hearts, in the land of their ene- 
mies ; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase 
them ; and they shall flee as fleeing from a sword ; 
and they shall fall when none pursueth." "And ye 
shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 
And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the 
land of your enemies shall eat you up." 

Jennie, [reads.] " I will deliver them to be re- 
moved into all kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, 
to be a reproach, a proverb, a taunt, and a curse, 
in all places whither I shall drive them ; and I will 
send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence 
among them, till they be consumed from off the 
land that I gave unto them, and unto their fathers.' ' 

Edward, [reads.] " The Lord shall smite thee 
with madness and blindness, and astonishment of 
heart, and thou shalt grope at noonday as the blind 
grope in darkness ; and thou shalt not prosper in 
thy ways ; and thou shalt be only oppressed and 
spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee." 
" Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given to an- 
other people." " There shall be no might in thy 



CONVERSATION XXXVI. 361 

hand." "Thou shalt become an astonishment, 
a proverb and a by-word among all nations whither 
the Lord shall lead thee." " All these curses shall 
come upon thee and shall pursue thee, and over- 
take thee, until thou be destroyed, because thou 
hearkenest not unto the voice of the Lord thy God " 

Mrs. S. Of no people on the face of the earth is 
this a description but of the Jews ; found in every 
country a separate people, and ever unwelcome. In 
the middle ages they were treated with savage bar- 
barity, and even now they are a proverb and a by- 
word. Seven times they were banished from France, 
and at one time six hundred thousand were forced 
to flee from Spain without knowing where to go. 

Edward. Here, their children were seized and 
educated in the Romish faith. 

Mrs. S. And by their passion for making money, 
they have ever provoked the fury of their enemies. 
God says by Ezekiel : " For the iniquity of their 
covetousness I was wroth." 

Susie. Says Mr. Keith : "No tongue can tell, no 
pen describe, what trembling of heart, what failing 
of eyes, what sorrow of mind, what sickness of soul, 
have been their portion." 

Edward. And yet in all their calamities they 
have grown rich. " As rich as a Jew " is a proverb, 
the Rothschilds — Jews — are the richest men in the 
world. 

Jennie. Love of money belongs to the race, and 
people are always afraid of being cheated by a Jew. 



362 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. How blind they are to the blessed light of 
the gospel. 

Mrs. S. But the promise that a remnant shall 
turn to the Lord is sure. Jeremiah says, as sure as 
the return of the ordinances of heaven,* and Moses, 
Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Micah and Zechariah and 
Haggar make known the same assurance. f 

Edward. Here, mother, permit me to repeat a 
few stanzas from McCheyne on this subject, written 
in the Bay of Carmel, on the Mediterranean. 

Mrs. S. Yes, my son, with pleasure. 

11 O Lord, this swelling tideless sea, 
Is like thy love in Christ to me ; 
These deep blue waters lave the shore 
Of Israel as in days of yore. 

Though Zion like a field is ploughed, 
And Salem covered with a cloud ; 
Though briars and thorns are tangled o'er, 
Where vines and olives twined before. 

Though turbaned Moslem tread the gate, 
And Judah sits most desolate ; 
Yet still these waters clasp the shore . 
As kindly as they did before. 

Such is Thy love to Israel's race, 
A deep unchanging tide of grace; 
Though scattered now at Thy command, 
They pine away in every land, 

With trembling heart, and failing eyes, 
And deep the veil o'er Israel lies ; 
Yet still thy word Thou canst not break. 
Beloved for their father's sake." 



*Jer. 31: 35, 36. 

t Deut 30:3-5. Isa. 11: 11, 12 ; 60 : 9, 10; 61:4. Ezek. 36:37. 
Amos 9 : 13-15. Mic. 2 : 12. 



CONVERSATION XXXVI. 363 

Jennie. Now, mother, let us look at Jerusalem, 
for it is still a city. 

Mrs. S. Yes, though much of the ancient city is 
buried under the present city. After the Romans, 
it came under the Saracens, and then under the 
Turks. From this time for nearly two hundred 
years, all Europe in the armies of the Crusades 
fought for the deliverance of this holy city from the 
hands of these infidels ; but their efforts were in 
vain ; and to-day the golden crescent, the symbol of 
the false prophet, still glitters over the very spot 
where the shekinah glory appeared of old. Thus 
" mockery sits on Salem's throne." 

Susie. Dr. Porter says there are a few miserable 
huts on Mt. Zion inhabited by Jews, and he gives 
an affecting description of the scene witnessed in 
the place of wailing — a poor haggard set of men and 
women and children bowing down to the earth, 
kissing the very stones, and bathing them with their 
tears. 

Jennie. The Jew cannot look on the sacred spot 
where his temple stood, without feeling his doom ; 
for there on the mosque of Omar, the crescent 
shines. 

Edward. But these sacred mountains speak to 
the heart, for we can seem to see the blessed Saviour 
in his ministrations of love. We can pursue the 
way he so often trod from Jerusalem to Bethany ; 
we can visit Gethsemane, and go up Mt. Olivet, from 
whence the divine Redeemer, having completed the 



364 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

work of redemption, ascended to glory ; bidding his 
disciples publish to all the world, the glad tidings of 
salvation. 

Jennie. Can we not go to Mt. Calvary and see 
the place where the body of Jesus was laid ? 

Edward. These places are probably unknown. 
A church has been built over what was supposed to 
be the place, but this is within the walls of the city, 
while the garden and Calvary were without the 
walls. 

Mrs. S. This leads me to speak of the super- 
stition of those who here call themselves Christians. 
Instead of faith in a risen Saviour, their religion ap- 
pears to consist in devotion to material things, 
believed to have been connected with the body of 
Jesus. There are shades of difference in the belief 
of these sects, but all are alike in their dependence 
upon external forms. There is also a spirit of hos- 
tility between each of them in regard to their differ- 
ence of belief ; so that when they mingle together, 
as in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, there is an 
armed force of Moslems to keep them in order. The 
Bible is not their guide, and the religion of each 
seems a scheme devised by man. 

Edward. There are changes now going on in the 
dominions of the Sultan, since the war with Russia 
and the treaty of Berlin, of which we must hereafter 
speak. 



CONVERSATION XXXVII. 



DANIEL. JERUSALEM CAPTURED. JEHOIAKIM. 

DANIEL IN BABYLON. NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S 

DREAM. INTERPRETATION. DANIEL AND 

HIS FRIENDS. NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S 

CONQUESTS. SECOND DREAM. 

INSANITY. 

CTUSIE. I am glad we are to spend this evening 
Y^ with Daniel. 

Edward. I do not know any Bible character 
more interesting. 

Jennie. Every child knows about Daniel in the 
lions' den, and that God shut the lions' mouths so 
they could not hurt him. I have known about him 
ever since I could remember anything. 

Mrs. Selwyn. No prophet was more eminent than 
Daniel. Ezekiel reckons him with Noah and Job, 
as distinguished for righteousness,* and he was at 
this time a young man. 

Edward. And in Ezekiel 28 : 3, the prince of 
Tyre is condemned for thinking himself wiser than 
Daniel, showing that his fame for wisdom and re- 
vealing secrets had reached that country. 

*Ezek. 14: 14. 



2>(>6 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. His wisdom was from above ; he was 
a man greatly beloved of God ; the very year 
when the Messiah should come, was revealed to 
him ; and like the beloved disciple, to him were 
given visions of the future to the very end of time. 

Jennie. He was one of the beautiful children of 
the royal seed, selected by Nebuchadnezzar to be 
educated by the wise men of Babylon. 

Mrs. S. They are called children, but they were 
probably in their teens, for Nebuchadnezzar desired 
such as were " skillful in all wisdom, and cunning 
in knowledge." 

Edward. Nebuchadnezzar was not king when 
he first came against Jerusalem, and took these 
children captives to Babylon. His father, Nabopo- 
lasser, then on the throne, sent him against Pharaoh- 
necho, who, alarmed at the rising power of Baby- 
lon, had invaded that empire. 

Jennie. This was the time when Josiah was kill- 
ed in battle with Necho. 

Edward. But Necho was defeated by Nebuchad- 
nezzar, and then I think he vented his spite upon 
the people of Judah, for he came suddenly upon 
Jerusalem, took Jehoahaz prisoner, and put the 
kingdom under tribute. 

Jennie. This was the way he showed the good- 
will, which he assured Josiah he felt for him and 
his people. 

Susie. Nebuchadnezzar followed the example of 
Necho ; for with his victorious army he entered 



CONVERSATION XXXVII. 367 

Jerusalem, pillaged the temple, and carried these 
children captive, leaving Jehoiakim a tributary- 
prince. This was the beginning of the seventy 
years captivity 606 B. C. 

Edward. Daniel and his friends were not treated 
like captives. They were in the king's family, and 
were permitted, or rather required to partake of 
of all the luxuries of his table. 

Jennie. And the first thing we know of him in 
this land of strangers, is his refusing this food, and 
desiring only pulse to eat, and water to drink. 
What is pulse mother ? 

Mrs. S. Pulse is the name for vegetables in 
general. 

Jennie. But what would have been the harm of 
partaking of some of the dishes prepared for the 
royal family, if he did not taste of any forbidden 
thing ? 

Mrs. S. His fear of partaking of that which was 
forbidden, probably had an influence ; but the rea- 
son why he refused all the royal dainties was, that 
in preparing this food, it was dedicated to an idol, 
and libations of wine were poured out in honor of 
the god they worshipped. He therefore considered 
it inconsistent with his duty to God, to partake 
either of the food or of the wine. Conforming to 
worldly customs, or seeming to approve of what 
may lead astray from God — with whom is it taking 
sides ? Is it for God, or against him ? 

Edward. It surely cannot be for him ; and our 



368 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Saviour says ; " He that is not with me is against 
me." 

Jennie. I see, now, why Daniel was right in the 
course which he pursued ; and I know that we are 
commanded to " avoid the appearance of evil," and 
we surely ought to obey this command. 

Susie. Daniel's three friends were as careful to 
obey God as he was. 

Mrs. S. This is true, but still on this occasion, 
Daniel was the leader. 

Edward. Melzar does not seem to have under- 
stood the laws of health very well ; for he thought 
this plain diet would render them less beautiful, but 
it was really no miracle that they became better 
looking. 

Susie. Their course of study was three years, 
and at the end of this time the king found these 
four, Daniel and his three friends, wiser than his 
wise men. 

Jennie. They could not have got through their 
course of study when Nebuchadnezzar had his 
dream, for this was the second year of his reign. 

Mrs. S. You forget that Nebuchadnezzar was 
not king when he carried them captive. His father 
reigned two years after this, so that the second 
year of his reign was the fourth of their captivity. 

Edward. But they were not called before the 
king with the other wise men, and it was a great 
piece of injustice to require them to be put to death 
without giving them a chance to show their ability 
to explain the dream. 



CONVERSATION XXXVII. 369 

Mrs. S. But it was like the other acts of this 
despotic king. 

Jennie. Only to think of his requiring the wise 
men to be slain, because they could not tell what 
he had dreamed. They say ; " There is not a man 
upon the earth that can show the king's matter. 

Mrs. S. And this was true. Daniel disclaims 
all power in himself, but assures the king that 
" there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets." 
Consider Daniel's faith. Knowing that the dream 
is forgotten, and of the decree for the death of the 
wise men, also, that he and his friends are included 
in that number ; yet with calmness he replies ; 
" Why is the decree so hasty ? Give me time and 
I will make known the dream and the interpretation. 

Edward. Daniel knew where to go for wisdom. 
I seem to see these four young men on their knees 
before God, pleading that for the glory of his own 
great name he would make known to Daniel the 
dream and its interpretation. 

Susie. And their prayer was answered. It was 
revealed to him, both the dream and the interpreta- 
tion, in a vision, probably that same night. Then 
I think they had a precious season of thanksgiving. 

Jennie. Now let us go with Daniel and his 
friends to the palace, and listen to the dream and 
its interpretation. 

Mrs. S. In this dream, God was pleased to 
make known the great outline of events from the 
time of Nebuchadnezzar to our own. The fulfill- 

24 



370 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ment is not yet completed ; for the entire consum- 
mation extends to the period when the Christian 
religion shall everywhere prevail. 

Susie. Now let me be Daniel long enough to tell 
the dream : Thou, O king, sawest an image, the 
head of fine gold, the breast and arms of silver, the 
belly and thighs of brass, the legs of iron, and the 
feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest a 
stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which 
smote the feet of this image and broke them in 
pieces ; and the whole image was crushed as fine as 
chaff, and blown away, while " the stone became a 
great mountain, and filled the whole earth." 

Edward. Now I will be Daniel, to make known 
the interpretation. " Thou, O king, art a king of 
kings : for the God of heaven hath given thee a 
kingdom, and power, and strength, and glory." 
■'Thou art the head of gold." But, mother, what 
was the empire over which he reigned ? 

Mrs. S. As Babylon was in Chaldea, it is called 
the Chaldean ; but it is also called the Assyrian, 
because all that empire fell under the power of 
Nebuchadnezzar. Its boundary on the west was 
the Mediterranean, though it also included Egypt. 

Edward. The breast and arms of silver repre- 
sented the Medo-Persian empire, extending from 
India to Ethiopia ; bounded west by the Archipel- 
ago as well as the Mediterranean. 

Jennie. Now I shall speak. The belly and 
thighs of brass represented the empire of Alexan- 



CONVERSATION XXXVII. 371 

der ; the Grecian or Macedonian, extending from 
India to the Adriatic. 

Susie. The legs of iron and the feet of iron and 
clay, represented the Roman empire, extending 
from India to the Atlantic. " Westward the star of 
empire shines." 

Mrs. S. The toes were the ten kingdoms into 
which the Roman empire was divided after its 
downfall ; iron and clay, partly strong and partly 
broken. These are now acting their part in the 
world's history. But the stone cut out of the 
mountain without hands, was the most wonderful 
view presented to this heathen king. Daniel, by 
divine inspiration, was enabled to make known 
what this stone represented, as well as the whole 
image itself. 

Edward. Of this stone, he declares that " in the 
days of these kings, the God of heaven will set up 
a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed ; and 
the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but 
it shall break in pieces and consume all these king- 
doms ; and it shall stand forever." 

Mrs. S. When Rome was in her glory, the 
divine Founder entered our world, completed the 
scheme of redemption, and established the kingdom 
which shall stand forever. This kingdom, for more 
than eighteen hundred years, has been extending, 
and to-day more rapidly than ever before. It does 
not yet fill the whole earth ; but we are sure of its 
final triumph, for God's purpose cannot fail. 



372 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. After this, for a long time, nothing is said 
of Daniel, only that the king made him " a great 
man," "ruler over the whole province of Babylon," 
and " chief of the governors over all the wise men 
of Babylon." 

Edward. It is also said that, by Daniel's request, 
his three friends — Shadrach, Meshech and Abed- 
nego, were set "over the affairs of the province of 
Babylon." To Daniel, was given the highest 
honor — to sit in the gate of the king. 

Mrs. S. Nebuchadnezzar was engaged in foreign 
conquests. The land of Judah and the neighbor- 
ing nations fell beneath his power. The entire 
destruction of Jerusalem was in 585 B. C. This 
was the year, probably, on his return to Babylon, 
that the golden image of himself was erected, and 
that Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego, for refusing 
to bow down and worship it, were cast into the 
fiery furnace. But though astonished at their 
preservation, he is still unhumbled. 

Edward. We next find him, for thirteen years, 
before the walls of Tyre ; but at length it falls, and 
Egypt also yields to his arms. Again he returns to 
his beautiful capital, believing himself the sovereign 
of the world. This must be 571 B. C. 

Susie. More than thirty years since his dream, 
and nothing said of Daniel. 

Mrs. S. But the king is "at rest in his house, 
and flourishing in his palace ; " puffed up with 
pride, and glorifying himself. According to Her- 



CONVERSATION XXXVII. 373 

odotus, Nitocris, his queen, had greatly beautified 
the city, and Nebuchadnezzar is thought at this 
time to have erected the splendid palace, known in 
history as the new palace. 

Edward. And he now has the second dream, 
which he describes himself ; and he declares the 
change thus wrought in his feelings : " Now I, 
Nebuchadnezzar, praise, and extol, and honor the 
king of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his 
ways judgment ; them that walk in pride he is able 
to abase." 

Mrs. S. And now, Susie, you may give his 
dream. 

Susie. Thank you for the privilege. In this 
vision he saw a tree that seemed to reach to heaven, 
and its branches to the ends of the earth ; its leaves 
beautiful, its fruit abundant, furnishing food for all 
flesh ; birds inhabiting its boughs, and beasts rest- 
ing under its shade. A divine being commands to 
cut the tree down and remove the branches, but to 
leave the stump with a band of iron and brass, to 
be wet with the dew of heaven. Then the tree 
seems to become a man, and the man to change 
into a beast, and seven times to pass over him. 

Edward. I will now give the interpretation. 
The tree represents Nebuchadnezzar ; his dominion 
the world, and his greatness above all other men. 
The command to cut it down implied his fall from 
this lofty height, and a beast's heart given to him ; 
but the stump being left until seven times pass over 



374 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

it, showed that after seven years, if receiving into 
his heart the great truth that the God of heaven is 
the supreme ruler of the world, he should be 
restored to his kingdom. 

Jennie. Daniel does not come to the king until 
the wise men confess their inability, and he is sent 
for. 

Mrs. S. And when the meaning is revealed, he 
trembles to make it known to the despotic king ; 
but seeking divine aid, he is enabled to declare the 
message God had given him. 

Susie. It does not, however, seem to have had 
much influence upon the godless king. He was so 
much absorbed in his great designs, that he forgot 
the warning of the prophet. 

Edward. Just twelve months from this time, 
while walking in his palace and surveying the 
splendor of the great Babylon he had built, by the 
might of his power and the honor of his majesty, 
taking all the glory to himself, the hand of God was 
upon him, — his reason gone, and the proud king a 
mere brute, seeking the companionship of his own 
cattle. 

Jennie. I suppose in his delusion he thought 
himself an animal, and would go upon all fours, 
eating grass as the oxen did. 

Mrs. S. Thus the judgment predicted came 
upon him — a furious maniac, permitted to herd 
with the beasts, until his nails and his hair grew, as 
Daniel had foretold. 



CONVERSATION XXXVII. 375 

Susie. This the punishment for pride ; and yet 
people will talk about good pride, and say that we 
ought to have some pride. But if pride is so hate- 
ful to God, I do not see how a little of such a bad 
thing can be good. I think people need to study 
the Dictionary as well as the Bible. 

Jennie. I am sure Nebuchadnezzar was con- 
vinced of the evil of pride, and was truly so 
changed as to be a humble man of God. 

Mrs. S. His language certainly indicates an 
entire change of character. Instead of taking 
glory to himself, he praises and honors Him that 
liveth forever. 

Edward. He is no longer an idolator, but seems 
to have clear and correct views of God, and to give 
all the glory to Him, 

Jennie. He was restored to his throne, and may 
have reigned two years. 

Edward. His reign is said to have been forty- 
three years. In this, several Chaldean authors 
agree. It was from 604 to 561 B. C. 



CONVERSATION XXXVIII. 



NEBUCHADNEZZAR S SUCCESSORS. — DESCRIPTION OF 

BABYLON. PROPHECY FULFILLED. CYRUS. 

LAST NIGHT OF BABYLON. THE FEAST. 

WRITING ON THE WALL. INTERPRE- 
TATION. DANIEL AND THE CAP- 
TIVES. TRIUMPH OF CYRUS. 

DEATH OF KING. 

TjI DWARD. I have been much interested in 
"^H. Mr. Rawlinson's account of Nebuchadnezzar. 
He speaks of an inscription found among the ruins 
of Babylon, which evidently refers to Nebuchad- 
nezzar's insanity, described by Daniel. The 
statement is, that for several years, apparently four, 
though it may be seven, he was not able to attend 
to the affairs of the kingdom. It seems to have 
been written by the king himself. 

Susie. A Chaldean author states, that just be- 
fore his death, he foretold the destruction of 
Babylon. 

Jennie. He was succeeded by his son, Evil- 
Merodach. 

Susie. Evil-Merodach is said to be Foolish 
Merodach, and that this described his character ; 



CONVERSATION XXXVIII. 377 

but the only deed recorded of him in Scripture, is 
a noble deed ; his lifting Jehoiachin out of prison, 
where he had been confined thirty-seven years, and 
permitting him for the rest of his life to eat at his 
table.* This was in the first year of his reign. 

Mrs. Selwyn. There were four kings of Babylon 
after Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach, Neiglissar, 
Laborosoarchod ; and as Daniel says, Belshazzar, 
but Chaldean authors say Nabonadius. These two 
accounts it had seemed impossible to reconcile ; 
Berosus stating that Nabonadius was king when 
Cyrus took Babylon ; also that he was not in the 
city, and not slain ; and Daniel stating that Bel- 
shazzar was king, and slain that same night. But 
this discrepancy has been cleared up by Sir Henry 
Rawlinson. In an ancient document discovered by 
him in Mugheir-Ur of the Chaldees, he found this 
statement : " Nabonadius, the last king of Babylon, 
in the latter part of his reign, associated his son 
Bilsharuzer in the government, with power equal 
to his own.f During the siege of Babylon, Nabona- 
dius led an army against the Persians, was defeated, 
and surrendered to them ; Bilsharuzer or Belshazzar 
was king in the city, and was slain, as Daniel relates. 

Edward. What an important and interesting 
discovery. 

Jennie. I wonder what was Daniel's situation 
during these reigns. 

* Jer. 52 : 31-34. 

t Historical Evidences, page 139. 



373 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Edward. We may be sure he was doing good. 
In the early part of his captivity, God gave him an 
opportunity to exhibit his wisdom, or rather his 
power with God, by making known to Nebuchad- 
nezzar his dream and the interpretation, and also 
a wonderful field of action — the court of a heathen 
king with the highest office in the realm. 

Susie. What a blessing he and his three friends 
must have been to the captives. 

Mrs. S. And what a blessing to the ambitious 
monarch ; though the answer to his prayers seemed 
long delayed. 

Jennie. The interpretation of the second dream, 
and its coming to pass just as Daniel had said, must 
have led the people to honor him. 

Mrs. S. Daniel, I presume, was not prime min- 
ister after the death of Nebuchadnezzar ; but as 
Edward says, he was doing good, and God was 
with him. We will now speak of the fall of Babylon ; 
but first I would like one of you to give a descrip- 
tion of this queen of cities. 

Susie. I will tell what I know of it : Babylon was 
built on an extensive plain, and surrounded by a 
wall, which according to Herodotus, was three hun- 
dred and fifty feet in height, and eighty-seven feet 
thick, wide enough for six chariots abreast, and 
fortified by towers more lofty than the walls. 
Rollin says it was sixty miles in circuit, fifteen miles 
on each side. The hanging gardens overlooked the 
wall, carried up to that height by arches built upon 



CONVERSATION XXXVIII. 379 

arches, with layers of earth upon them so that they 
looked like hills. There were twenty-five streets 
running each way, crossing each other at right 
angles, and at the end of each street a brazen gate, 
so that the city was entered by one hundred gates. 
The river Euphrates ran through the city, and on 
each side of it was a wall with brazen gates at the 
termination of each street. There were two palaces, 
one on each side of the river ; and from one palace 
to the other was a bridge, which was a wonderful 
work of art. Nebuchadnezzar's new palace, erected 
when he returned in triumph the sovereign of the 
nations, was enclosed by three walls, the outer one 
eight miles in circuit. In addition to these palaces, 
the whole city was adorned with splendid buildings,, 
and beautified with pleasure grounds and gardens. 
The most wonderful structure, both for its size and 
its splendor was the temple of Belus, thought to 
have been originally the tower of Babel ; consisting 
of eight towers built one above the other, each de- 
creasing to the topmost one. It was half a mile in 
circuit at the base, and thought to have " exceeded 
the great pyramid of Egypt in height." Babylon 
was thus the oldest of cities, as well as most 
distinguished for its massive structures, and the 
grandeur of its works of art. 

Mrs. S. Well, my child, you have given us a fine 
idea of Babylon, so that in imagination we can seem 
to see it. The Scripture declares it, " the glory of 
the kingdoms ;" " the beauty of the Chaldees' excel- 



380 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

lency ; " "the golden city;" "the lady of king- 
doms ;" and "the praise of the whole earth." Its 
foundation, however, was laid in rebellion against 
God, and as it grew in greatness, it increased in its 
defiance of God's commands. And now its hour of 
doom had come. Listen to the words of the 
prophets, "Go up, O Elam, besiege, Oh Media."* 
" Behold I will stir up the Medes against them."f 
" The Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of 
the Medes, for his device is against Babylon to des- 
troy it." I The prophets had been bidden to declare 
what nations should perform His divine purpose, 
and behold the hosts of Media and of Elam are at 
the gates of this very city. 

Jennie. But what hope could they have of getting 
within these massive walls ? 

Edward. It seems indeed surprising that the 
attempt should have been made ; and yet for two 
years, Cyrus with his army of Medes and Persians 
had surrounded these walls, determined to obtain 
an entrance. 

Mrs. S. Cyrus with his veteran hosts, though he 
knew it not, was performing the work of God, and 
he therefore could not fail. Can you, Jennie, give 
Isaiah's prophecy of Cyrus? 

Je?inie. Yes, mother — " Thus saith the Lord to 
His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have 



* Isa. 21 : 2. 
t Isa. 13 : 17. 
tjer. 51: 11. 



CONVERSATION XXXVIII. 381 

holden, to subdue nations before him ; I will loose 
the loins of kings, to open before him the two-leaved 
gates, and the gates shall not be shut. * Also in 
the preceding chapter verse 27 — "That saith to the 
deep, be dry, and I will dry up the rivers ; " show- 
ing how it should be taken. 

Edward. This prophecy was spoken at least one 
hundred and seventy years before the event took 
place. 

Mrs. S. God also declares by the prophet, that 
his great design in enabling Cyrus to perform a 
work to human view impracticable, was the deliver- 
ance of his people. By Jeremiah He had given this 
promise : " After seventy years be accomplished at 
Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good 
word toward you, in causing you to return to this 
place." f God also declares his purpose to visit 
with justice the oppressors of his people ; "I will 
render unto Babylon, and to all the inhabitants of 
Chaldea, all their evil that they have done in Zion, 
in your sight." J Of Cyrus the divine declaration is 
" He is my shepherd and shall perform all my 
pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, thou shalt be 
built, and to the temple ; thy foundations shall be 
laid." § Now Susie, you may tell me what you 
know of Cyrus. 

Susie. He was the son of Cambyses, king of 

*Isa. 45: 1. 
t Jer. 29 : 10. 
t Jer 54 : 24- 
§ Isa. 44 : 28. 



382 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Persia, and grandson of Astyages, king of Media. 
The Medes, a powerful nation, made war upon 
Babylon, and the Persians aided them with a body 
of troops under the command of Cyrus. Cyrus 
was a young man, but so distinguished for his skill 
in military affairs, that he was made commander-in- 
chief of the whole army. Media was a country 
south of the Caspian Sea, and Persia or Elam was 
on the Persian Gulf. 

Mrs. S. We have spoken of the amazing strength 
of Babylon. Her resources were also so abundant, 
that the city could not be reduced by famine. 

Edward. I think that Cyrus while surrounding 
her mighty ramparts, had made the character and 
habits of the people a special study. It was really by 
power of thought rather than by force of arms, that 
he came off triumphant. 

Jennie. I am sure this is true ; and I know how 
he got into the city. Let me tell the story mother. 
Here was the Euphrates river running through the 
city from one side to the other. At some distance — 
how far I do not know — was an artificial lake, and 
from the river to the lake a canal, so that the water 
could be drawn off when there was danger of a 
freshet. This canal was closed up by very strong 
dykes. Cyrus I presume had often thought, that 
by breaking down the dykes, he could draw off the 
water, so that his army could enter by the bed of 
the river ;'but still he knew also that there was a 
wall on each side of the river, and the gates always 



CONVERSATION XXXVIII. 383 

closed at sunset. Cyrus, however, was a keen ob- 
server, and one night — a feast day night — he learned 
that a gate had been left open, the people so drunk 
as not to notice it. 

Susie. And by some means, Cyrus found there 
was to be a great feast at the palace on a certain 
night ; and he said to himself, this is my time, for 
the king and his nobles, and everybody high and 
low, will be too drunk to know whether the gates are 
open or shut. 

Edward. And, mother, this surely was the very 
feast described by Daniel, Chapter 5 — Belshazzar's 
feast ; for it says : " On that night Belshazzar, the 
king of the Chaldeans was slain, and Darius, the 
Median took the kingdom." 

Mrs. S. Yes my son, this was the night that 
" Belshazzar made a feast to a thousand of his 
lords ; " and, when maddened by wine, sent for the 
golden vessels ; taken from the temple of Jerusalem, 
and from these sacred vessels " the king and his 
princes, his wives and his concubines " drank wine 
in honor of their idols, praising the gods of silver, 
gold and stone. 

Susie. The palace resounded with noisy mirth, 
for as the poet says : 

"Wild dances are there, and a riot of mirth, 
And the beauty that maddens the passions of earth ; 
The thousands all shout, and the cymbals ring, 
Praise, praise to Belshazzar, Belshazzar is king." 

Jennie. But in this same city, I can see another 



384 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

and far different assembly ; the venerable prophet 
surrounded by a crowd of weeping ones, while he 
is pleading with God that he would enable Cyrus to 
enter this city, and become their deliverer. 

Edward. And I can see Cyrus rallying his forces ; 
his army every one in motion the whole length of 
the canal, breaking down the dykes ; the river taking 
a new course, and its former channel becoming 
shallow. 

Mrs. S. Now look into the banquet hall, so 
lately resounding with mirth and revelry — behold 
the consternation on every countenance ! Look at 
those words of doom written by mysterious fingers 
on that palace wall — so plainly seen in the light 
from that candlestick taken from God's house. 
Hear the cry : " send for the wise men;" and see 
them gaze at these unknown characters. Now turn 
your eye to the entrance of that palace hall, see the 
venerable queen-mother, as she herself comes to 
tell them of Daniel " in whom is the spirit of the 
holy gods." 

Susie. She seems not to have been at the banquet, 
and also to have a great veneration for Danie], re- 
minding her son how much he had been esteemed 
by his father. 

Jennie. Who was this queen ? 

Mrs. S. She is thought to have been the daugh- 
ter of Nebuchadnezzar and mother of Belshazzar. 

Edward. Look again, there is Daniel. What a 
heavenly countenance, and majestic mien. Bel- 



CONVERSATION XXXVIII. 385 

shazzar receives him graciously, and says : " If thou 
canst read this writing, and make known the inter- 
pretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed in scarlet, 
and have a chain of gold about the neck, and be the 
third ruler in the kingdom." Daniel looks upon 
him with pity, and replies : " Let thy gifts be to thy- 
self, and give thy rewards to another, but I will read 
the writing to the king, and make known the inter- 
pretation to him." But first he recalls to him the 
history of his grandfather ; how God had punished 
him for his pride, and he then declares : " Thou, 
his son, Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, 
though thou knewest all this." He also shows 
him how on that very evening, he had lifted himself 
up against the Lord of Heaven, and had insulted 
Him by profaning the vessels dedicated to His ser- 
vice, using them in honor of gods of gold. 

Mrs. S. For this profanity, this setting Jehovah 
at defiance, and not glorifying Him ; these words, 
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, had been written. 
They were Chaldee words, but in Hebrew charac- 
ters — the literal meaning — " He hath numbered, 
He hath numbered, He hath weighed, and they 
divide." 

Edward. If the wise men could have read the 
words, they had no ability to understand the appli- 
cation. Daniel gives God's estimate of Belshazzar's 
character ; he also gives his doom, as these words 
make it known. " God hath numbered thy king- 
dom and finished it ; thou art weighed in the bal- 



3S6 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ances, and art found wanting ; thy kingdom is 
divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 

Jennie. After this interpretation, Belshazzar's 
terror seems to have abated, but I am sure there 
were no words of comfort in it. He probably 
thought, as many others do, that the danger was at 
a distance. He little imagined his last hour was so 
near ; and ashamed that he had shown himself so 
cowardly, he rallies his trembling courtiers, and re- 
turns to his mirth and wine. 

Edward. And yet at this very time, the enemy is 
nearing the palace. Scarcely had they resumed their 
noisy mirth, when they are startled by the clash of 
arms, the shouts of the foe ! The palace is a field 
of blood, and instead of the song and the dance, are 
the groans of the dying, the stillness of death ! 

M Belshazzar's grave is made, 
His kingdom passed away ; 
He in the balance laid, 
Is light as worthless day." 

Mrs. S. But to the mourning captives, what bright 
anticipations are opened by this triumph of Cyrus ! 
This is that Cyrus who is to be their deliverer. The 
words of the prophet are fulfilled ; the river dried 
up, the two-leaved gates opened before him — the 
gates leading to the river were two-leaved. From 
all the homes of these captives of Judah, the voice 
of thanksgiving ascends to Israel's God ; Daniel, 
their priest and king, the type of David's greater 
Son. 



CONVERSATION XXXIX. 



RESULTS OF THE FALL OF BABYLON. GRADUAL 

DECLINE. PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH AND JERE- 
MIAH. PRESENT STATE THUS DESCRIBED. 

THIS IS A PROOF OF DIVINE IN- 
SPIRATION. WHY THIS EN- 
TIRE DESOLATION ? 

< T7T DWARD. We gave last evening the descrip- 
"^H. tion of what is usually termed, "the last night 
of Babylon ; " but it was by no means the destruc- 
tion of this mighty city. Her walls received no 
injury, and this queen of cities still displayed her 
magnificence. She had only changed masters. 

Mrs. Selwyn. The purposes of God, however, 
for that particular time were accomplished. The 
man, who in the divine counsels, was to be the de- 
liverer of his people, obtained an entrance in the 
very manner the prophet had predicted — the river 
dried up, the gates left open. " When the spoiler 
came," " her mighty men were taken;" for "her 
princes, her wise men, her captains, and her rulers" 
were drunken, as the Lord by Jeremiah had de- 



388 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

clared they should be,* and as Daniel shows was 
the case, in his description of Belshazzar's feast. f 

Jennie. So unexpected was the invasion, that 
" one post ran to meet another, and one messenger 
to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that 
his city was taken at one end. "J 

Susie. Then in the very year that had been pre- 
dicted, the king that had been named as their deliv- 
erer was on the tnrone ; the captives were set free, 
and by his aid the foundations of the temple were 
laid ; and this same heathen prince proclaimed : 
"The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the 
kingdoms of the earth, and he hath charged me to 
build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah."§ 

Jennie. But mother, Isaiah 13 : 19-22, declares 
that Babylon shall be entirely destroyed, and be- 
come a perpetual desolation. Do we know when 
this work of destruction took place ? 

Edward. Please, mother, I will answer Jennie's 
question. I have been looking especially at this 
history. This decline was gradual. After Darius, 
the Mede, the kings of Persia made Susa or Shus- 
hau, the capital. In the reign of Darius Hystaspes, 
Babylon revolted, and I presume you recollect Jen- 
nie, how by the crafty device of Zopyrus, — as Rollin 
relates — it was re-taken. In consequence of this 
revolt, Darius caused the walls to be lowered to about 

* Jer. 51 : 56-57. 
f Dan. 5 : 1-4. 
X Jer. 51 : 31. 
§ Ezek. 1:2. 



CONVERSATION XXXIX. 389 

one-third of the original height. The river Euphra- 
tes by obstructions in its course often overflowed, 
causing marshes, and pools of stagnant water, the 
habitation of the bittern, and venomous reptiles ; 
while the malaria rendered the city unhealthy ; 
Isaiah's prediction, " I will also make it a possession 
for the bittern and pools of water," being thus ful- 
filled. 

Susie. Alexander the Great, after the conquest of 
Persia, determined to make it his capital, and set 
about repairing it, employing it is said ten thousand 
workmen ; but his death caused the work to cease. 

Edward. It was the purpose of God, that this 
great city should become a ruinous heap, and Alex- 
ander could not prevent its accomplishment. 

Mrs. S. Xerxes, the successor of Darius Hys- 
taspes, who led such an immense army against 
Greece, seized the treasures of the temple of Belus. 
This was doubtless to aid him in his great under- 
taking, but in doing it he fulfilled the prediction of 
Jeremiah: "I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I 
will bring forth out of his mouth that which he has 
swallowed up, and I will do judgment upon the 
graven images of Babylon."* 

Susie. Xerxes plundered and destroyed the 
idols ; thus obtaining an immense amount of gold, 
but he was thus the instrument employed to exe- 
cute " judgment upon the graven images of Babylon. " 

Edward. The building of Ctesiphon and Sel- 

* Jer. 51 : 44. 



390 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

eucia hastened this work of destruction ; as mate- 
rials for building these cities were taken from 
Babylon, and many of the inhabitants removed to 
these places. 

Mrs. S. A Parthian conqueror 130 B. C. des- 
troyed some of the finest parts of the city, and re- 
moved many of the people to Media. In the fourth 
century by the Parthian monarchs, it was made a 
hunting ground ; and it was consequently peopled 
by wild beasts. Can you give me a prophecy that 
was thus fulfilled ? 

Jennie. I can. Isa. 13 :2i, 22, "But wild beasts 
of the desert shall be there ; and their houses shall 
be full of doleful creatures ; and owls shall dwell 
there, and satyrs shall dance there, and the wild 
beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate 
houses, and dragons in their pleasant places." And 
this as travelers inform us, is the state of things at 
the present day. 

Susie. The prophet Isaiah also says, " Neither 
shall the Arab pitch his tent there ; neither shall the 
shepherds make their fold there." They are prob- 
ably kept away by the venomous reptiles and wild 
beasts, but thus the prophecy is fulfilled, and it is 
literally "a habitation for dragons, and the hold of 
every foul beast." Isaiah and Jeremiah both de- 
clare that it shall never be inhabited, but shall be 
desolate forever ; and the testimony of travelers is 
in accordance with prophecy. 

Jennie. " Fulfilled Prophecy " — a book that I 



CONVERSATION XXXIX. 391 

have been reading, says that the plain of Shinar for 
a great extent around Babylon, once remarkable for 
its fertility, is now a perfect waste. Spots darker 
than others, show where there once were cities or 
villages, and these are in great numbers. I should 
think in reading the prophecies, that the whole of 
Chaldea should become desolate ; and this from the 
reports of travelers seems really the case. A death- 
like silence pervades the scene. 

Susie. The way one knows when he has reached 
what was once the city of Babylon, is by the size of 
the mounds, which have been formed by masses of 
the ruins. A lofty and extended mound near the 
Euphrates, is thought to be the remains of the 
palace built by Nebuchadnezzar. It is an irregular 
mass of ruins rising to the height of seventy feet, 
and extending as much as half a mile. Here Bel- 
shazzar made a feast for a thousand of his lords, 
and here was the handwriting on the wall. 

Edward. But the largest mound of all, between 
two and three hundred feet high, is thought to be 
the ruins of the temple of Belus, or the tower of 
Babel. This tower was six hundred feet high, and 
was built by rebellious men, only one hundred 
years after the flood. It is seven hundred and 
sixty-two yards around it. 

Mrs. S. The tradition is, that it was destroyed 
by fire from heaven, and the appearance of this as 
well as other mounds, is that of a burnt mountain ; 
while the prophet declares, " I will roll thee down 



392 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

from the rock, and will make thee a burnt moun- 
tain."* The prophet also declares, " Thus saith 
the Lord of hosts ; the broad walls of Babylon shall 
be utterly broken, and her gates shall be burned 
with nre."f These walls were standing more than 
a thousand years after this prophecy was spoken, 
and it is not known by whom destroyed. They 
were of sun-dried bricks, cemented by bitumen. 
They are now all gone. One traveler — Captain 
Frederick — says he searched for six days, and could 
find no trace of them. Other travelers testify that 
Jeremiah's prophecy is altogether fulfilled. 

Susie. The prophecy of Isaiah : " I will sweep it 
with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of 
hosts ;"J Sir Robert Porter says, seems to describe 
the appearance of the country. It looks as if this 
instrument of destruction had swept over it from 
north to south. 

Mrs. S. Within the last forty years, these ruins 
have been explored, and identified as the ruins of 
Babylon. Claudius Jas. Rich has been distinguished 
in this work. They are near Hellah, which you 
will find on the map. Previous to this, the precise 
spot where this city stood was uncertain. Among 
the ruins of buildings, some of them with walls of 
burned brick ; Mr. Rich found alabaster vessels, a 
sculptured lion, and bones of various kinds of 



* Jer. 51 : 25. 
tjer. 51:58. 
t Isa. 14 : 23. 



CONVERSATION XXXIX. 393 

animals. One single tree overlooks this field of 
ruin. The largest mound is called Birs Nimroud, 
probably as Nimrod, the mighty hunter was the 
founder of this far-famed city, and perhaps one of 
the Babel builders.* 

Edward. But there is great difficulty in explor- 
ing these ruins, so numerous are the venomous 
reptiles and wild beasts. 

Mrs. S. The discoveries however already made, 
are sufficient to prove the prophecies written by di- 
vine inspiration. Read the history of Babylon 
when in her glory, and with it the testimony of her 
utter desolation ; then from the page of divine in- 
spiration, search out the record of Nebuchadnezzar's 
conquests, and^the sins by which he provoked the 
wrath of God ; and with the picture of these ruins, 
this utter desolation, in the mind's eye, read Isaiah, 
chapters 13-14, and Jeremiah, chapters 50-51. Can 
their graphic description of what was most unlikely 
ever to take place — written while Babylon was in 
her glory — be compared with her present state, and 
a doubt remain that their pens were guided by 
" Him who seeth the end from the beginning ?" 

Edward. A person willing to examine and re- 
ceive this evidence would not doubt ; but the old 
saying is true : " He that is convinced against his 
will, is of the same opinion still." It is also difficult 



* In recent explorations of these ruins, a monument of King 
Cyrus has been discovered. It is a cylinder, upon which is an 
inscription relating to his capture of Babylon. 



394 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

to induce an unbeliever to look at evidence that 
will prove him to be in the wrong. Pride of opinion 
makes one blind to the truth, however plain it 
may be. 

Susie. I want to give an idea of Mr. Keith re- 
specting Babylon : " Every feature of its present 
state is delineated in the prophecies with all the 
precision with which they could now be drawn by 
the traveler who looks on fallen Babylon itself." 

Jennie. I have not read Herodotus nor Xeno- 
phon, but Mr. Keith says, that their description of 
the taking of Babylon is in exact accordance with 
what Isaiah and Jeremiah had foretold. They 
must have lived near the time of its being taken by 
Cyrus, and Herodotus visited it. 

Mrs. S. In summing up the judgments that 
should be visited upon Babylon, it is wonderful to 
find how exactly the threatenings are executed. 
Not only Babylon, but all the cities of Chaldea, are 
a desolation, the whole country a wilderness where 
no man dwelleth. It is remarkable that one side of 
the river is an " arid plain," the surface being ele- 
vated by the crumbling ruins ; while on the other 
side, the embankment being washed away, there is 
formed an extensive marsh with pools of stagnant 
water, thus verifying the prediction of the prophet. 

Edward. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah declare that 
the destruction of Babylon should be as complete 
as that of Sodom and Gomorrah ; so that no man 
could dwell therein. Should such a prediction be 



CONVERSATION XXXIX. 395 

made concerning London or New York — who would 
believe in the possibility of such an event ? 

Susie. The Arabs are found in every other deso- 
late country that we have visited, and it seems 
singular, that in Babylon, travelers never see any of 
their black tents. 

Mrs. S. It is not the venomous reptiles, nor 
the wild beasts, that keep them away from Babylon, 
but it is their dread of evil spirits, with which they 
believe these ruins to be haunted ; and thus the 
prediction is fulfilled : " Neither shall the Arabian 
pitch his tent there." 

Edward. I have been searching to discover what 
were the special sins for which these judgments 
were visited upon Babylon ; and will read some of 
the divine declarations. Jer. 50 : 35-38 : "A sword 
is upon the Chaldeans, and upon the inhabitants of 
Babylon ;" "for it is the land of graven images, and, 
they are mad upon their idols." Jer. 50 : 24, " I 
have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, 
O Babylon," "because thou hast striven against the 
Lord." Jer. 50 : 29, "Call together the archers 
against Babylon ; " " according to all that she hath 
done, do unto her;" "for she hath been proud 
against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel." 
Jer. 51 : 24, "I will render unto Babylon and unto 
all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they 
have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord." 
Isa. 14 : 12, 13, 14. "How art thou fallen, O 
Lucifer, son of the morning." " For thou hast said 



396 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

in thine heart I will ascend into heaven." " I will 
exalt my throne above the stars of God." "I will 
be like the Most High." Thus we perceive it was 
for their idolatry, their pride, their striving against 
the God of Israel, and for the oppression of His 
people, that their land should become a perpetual 
desolation. 



CONVERSATION XL. 



DARIUS THE MEDE. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

EMPIRE. CONSPIRACY AGAINST DANIEL. HIS 

DELIVERANCE. DANIEL'S PRAYER. THE 

ANSWER. — -THE SEVENTY WEEKS EX- 
PLAINED. 

"TTTDWARD. We have traced the decline of 
"^^ Babylon, have seen the declarations of the 
prophets fulfilled in the desolation of this city, and 
have thus been convinced that these predictions 
were from God, for no human being could, ages 
before, so accurately describe its present condition. 

Susie. Now let us look at the people of Babylon 
as we left them ; the enemy within their massive 
walls, and their king slain. I think the captives 
expected Cyrus would become their king ; but the 
Medes seem to have had the power in their hands, 
and Cyrus was a Persian. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Though Cyrus was the conqueror, 
he was only the commander of the army. It was 
for the king of Media to say who should be on the 
throne of Babylon. Cyrus was grandson of the 
king of Media, and the son of the king of Persia. 
God had a work for him to perform, and in due 



39$ LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

time the power would be in his hands, but the royal 
dignity was first conferred on a Median prince. 

Edward. I have been trying to find out who 
Darius the Mede was, but historians do not agree. 
Some say he was Astyages, the grandfather of 
Cyrus ; others that he was Cyaxares 2, at that time 
the king of Media. Mr. Rawlinson, however, is of 
the opinion that he was a Median prince upon whom 
the supreme power was conferred. 

Jennie. I am satisfied with knowing that he was 
Darius the Mede, who once in his life did a very 
wise thing ; and that was, making Daniel his prime 
minister, or giving him the highest office in the 
realm. 

Edward. I think, Jennie, we will all be satisfied 
with knowing what you know, and there let the 
matter rest. 

Mrs. S. Daniel's interpreting the handwriting 
on the wall, and predicting the triumph of the 
Medes and Persians, brought him into favor with 
the king. Darius must have been glad to find a 
man of so much wisdom and integrity to place in 
this important station. 

Susie. What an empire it was over which he 
ruled, one hundred and twenty provinces; the princes 
and presidents all under Daniel. I do not see why 
he was hated by them, since they could find no 
fault in him. 

Mrs. S. For that very reason. They envied 
him, and envy as you know, is hatred of superior 



CONVERSATION XL. 399 

merit. Let a person be worthy of entire confidence, 
envy grudges him the honor, and hates him for re- 
ceiving it. Those who are bent upon wrong doing 
hate him, because his uprightness condemns their 
evil deeds, and prevents them from carrying out 
their corrupt designs. Daniel was to see that the 
king received no damage, and he therefore stood in 
their way. But for this Daniel, we might lay hold 
of great treasure ; but with him in the way, we can- 
not cheat the king a single groat. We are afraid of 
him, says one ; we hate his religion, says another ; 
if we could only get the king to make a law against 
praying, would not that catch him ? 

Edward. I dare say they chuckled over this 
crafty thought, and that their decree was soon 
drawn up, and they, on their way to the palace. 

Jennie. They bow down before the king, with 
the salutation, " King Darius, live forever." Pre- 
senting their petition — they assure him, it is from 
all the officers of the realm ; that they all unite in 
desiring him to make a firm decree, that "whoso- 
ever shall ask a petition of any God or man for 
thirty days — save of thee, O king — he shall be cast 
into the den of lions." 

Edward. This touches the vanity of the king ; 
his own glory is all he thinks of, and the decree is 
signed. 

Mrs. S. Daniel knows nothing of the decree, 
until it is the law of the Medes and Persians, which 
cannot be changed. 



400 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. The first thought of Daniel when he 
heard of this strange decree, must have been to 
disobey it ; for he must go to God as his only refuge. 

Edward. His enemies knew his place of prayer, 
and just as they desired, they found him on his 
knees before God. 

Jennie And it was not long before the king 
heard of it. 

Susie. Then how great was his sorrow, Daniel, 
the man above all others whom I can trust, put him 
in the den of lions ! How could I sign that decree 
without knowing whether he desired it ? Thoughts 
like these, I am sure he had. 

Jennie. He tried hard to save Daniel, but it was 
all in vain. 

Edward. His enemies were so delighted with the 
idea of getting rid of him, that they would hear 
nothing in his favor ; they were in haste to have 
the decree executed. 

Mrs. S. Yes, they longed to see him thrown to 
the hungry lions. But neither men nor devils can 
prevail against God, nor take away the peace and 
joy of those who trust in Him. Daniel, that night 
in the lion's den, was the happiest man in the whole 
realm. Jesus, " the angel of the Lord " was with 
him, and his communion was sweet ; and had the 
lions devoured his body, angels would have borne 
his soul to a heavenly home. 

Edward. But poor Darius — what a wretched 
night he had. With the morning's dawn he hastens 



CONVERSATION XL. 40 1 

to the den, and between hope and fear, he cries : 
" O Daniel, servant of the living God ; is thy God 
whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee 
from the lions ? " How his heart leaps for joy at 
the sound of his voice ! " O king live forever — 
my God hath sent his angel and shut the lions' 
mouths, that they have not hurt me." 

Mrs. S. His enemies behold the man they can- 
not injure ; they witness the joy of their king at his 
deliverance. 

Edward. But their time is short ; for the awful 
doom plotted against this man of God, was theirs ; 
and their bones are crushed ere they reach the 
bottom of the den. 

Sitsie. But Daniel hastens to his place of prayer, 
to pour out thanksgiving and praise to a covenant- 
keeping God. 

Jennie. And the edict of the king goes every- 
where, bidding all people, nations, and languages, 
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. 

Mrs. S. Thus " the wrath of man praises God." 

Edward. It is to be hoped that the king obeyed 
his own decree. 

Mrs. S. It is, indeed, but we do not know ; for 
this is all we are told of Darius. 

Susie. A prayer of Daniel, which was offered to 
God in the first year of Darius, we have in the 
ninth chapter. I think he was troubled because 
Cyrus did not come to the throne instead of Darius. 

Edward. Yes, this must have been a great dis- 

26 



402 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

appointment to Daniel, and to all the captives. It 
must have seemed to them a very dark providence. 

Mrs. S. The seventy years so nearly completed, 
and yet Cyrus not on the throne to proclaim deliv- 
erance to the captives ; but by faith he laid hold of 
the divine promises, and besought God for their 
fulfillment. 

Jennie. It was 538 B. C. that Cyrus took Baby- 
lon, and the seventy years ended 536 B. C. 

Edward. And just at this time Darius died, and 
Cyrus ascended the throne. In the very first year 
of his reign, the memorable decree was issued ; the 
captives were set free, and Cyrus proved to be as the 
Lord had declared, " the shepherd of Israel." 

Mrs. S. But now let us consider Daniel's mem- 
orable prayer. In sackcloth and ashes with fasting 
he pleads with God, confessing his sins, and the 
sins of his people ; and declaring his confidence in 
God's covenant mercy to them that fear Him, His 
infinite righteousness, and His justice, in the judg- 
ments with which he had visited them for their sins, 
and the iniquity of their fathers. Earnestly he 
pleads for forgiveness, and that He would cause 
His face to shine on His sanctuary which is deso- 
late ; and thus he closes : "O Lord hear, O Lord 
forgive ; O Lord hearken and do ; defer not for 
thine own sake, O my God, for thy city and thy 
people are called by thy name." 

Edward. And he received an immediate answer, 
for while speaking and praying, the angel Gabriel 



CONVERSATION XL. 403 

touched him at the time of the evening oblation. 
We here learn in what spirit and manner we should 
pray, that our prayers may be heard and answered. 
This is humble, earnest, believing importunity. 

Mrs. S. The answer given to his humble peti- 
tions, was even larger than he sought. His suppli- 
cation was for the fulfillment of the promise to re- 
store and to rebuild Jerusalem, and the sanctuary 
which was then desolate ; and the divine answer 
was, the announcement of the time when the Mes- 
siah, the Hope of Israel, the Desire of nations, 
should come. But his special petition was also 
granted ; for from the decree to restore and rebuild 
Jerusalem to this glorious day, would be seventy 
weeks. 

Jennie. Yes, I see that it is the promise of all the 
blessings for which he prayed ; the return of the 
captives to their own land, the rebuilding of their 
beloved city, and of the temple now in ruins ; and 
also the promise of the Messiah, with the time when 
he should come. 

Edward. And, now mother, we look to you for 
an explanation of the seventy weeks. 

Mrs. S. The language of prophecy does not 
generally give the date so plainly, that the precise 
time when the event is to take place can be known. 
The termination of the captivity was precisely given, 
and the time where the Messiah should come is 
here very definite. Still there are difficulties to be 
settled, for there were four decrees, and the ques- 



404 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

tion is : With which decree, do the seventy weeks 
commence ? The first, two however, that of Cyrus 
and of Darius Hystaspes, were more especially for 
the rebuilding of the temple ; therefore it cannot 
be from either of these. Artaxerxes Longimanus 
issued two decrees, one to Ezra, and one to 
Nehemiah. You are quite sure Edward that as 
Nehemiah was commissioned to rebuild the wall of 
Jerusalem, it must be from that decree ; but to Ezra 
special authority was given, to set rulers and magis- 
trates over the people, and to bring them under the 
dominion of law. Which think you, my son, would 
be most likely to restore and build up the city ; 
good laws and rulers to require their observance, or 
the erection of walls ? 

Edwai'd. Well, mother, I think you have shut 
me up to the answer ; for I am sure that the regu- 
lations established by Ezra, were far more effectual 
in promoting the growth and prosperity of Jeru- 
salem, than its being enclosed by a wall. 

Jennie. Then, mother, I suppose we are to 
understand that a day is put for a year, and the 
seventy weeks would therefore be four hundred and 
ninety years. 

Susie. But the decree given to Ezra was 457 B. C. 

Mrs. S. But the seventy weeks do not termi- 
nate with the birth of Christ ; for by His death and 
resurrection was the work of redemption accom- 
plished. 

Jennie. I see it, mother, 457 + 33 = 490. 



CONVERSATION XL. 405 

Susie. Why did we not see it before ? 

Mrs. S. The seventy weeks are spoken of under 
three divisions — seven weeks or forty-nine years, 
during which "the street" or rampart "shall be 
built, and the wall even in troublous times." We 
know these troubles from reading Ezra and Ne- 
hemiah. During this division, the ministration of 
the prophets continued ; Malachi living about the 
time of Nehemiah, or a little later, closing up the 
Old Testament. Then there should be three score 
and two weeks in another division ; and after this 
"shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself." 
" He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to 
cease ; " for by the one offering to Himself, all 
the types of the former dispensation were fulfilled ; 
and the rending of the veil, so that the way into 
the Holy of Holies was opened, indicated its close. 
The covenant was confirmed to thousands on the 
day of Pentecost. There is also an intimation of 
the judgments that should come upon the nation, 
for their rejection of the Messiah — the destruction 
of the city and the sanctuary. This was accom- 
plished by the Romans in less than forty years. 
"He shall make it desolate even until the consum- 
mation." More than eighteen hundred years have 
gone by, but not yet is the consummation. 



CONVERSATION XLI. 



CYRUS AND THE CAPTIVES ZOROBABEL THE FIRST 

WORK A SAD CHANGE HAGGAl's REPROOFS 

THE TEMPLE BUILT ESTHER AND MORDE- 

CAI DELIVERANCE OF THE JEWS 

ADMINISTRATION OF EZRA OF 

NEHEMIAH. 

CTUSIE. A joyful day to Daniel and to all the 
'X captives, was that when by the death of 
Darius, the power came into the hands of Cyrus. 

Jennie. The seventy years of captivity just at 
an end, and the promised deliverer on the throne — 
what a happy day it must have been. 

Edward. And in that same year, the proclama- 
tion so wonderful was issued : " The Lord God of 
heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the 
earth, and he hath charged me to build him a house 
at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there 
among you of all his people ? His God be with 
him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in 
Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of 
Israel. He is the God."* 

Mrs. Sehayn. Here, my children, see the faith- 

*Ez. i : 2, 3. 



CONVERSATION XLI. 407 

fulness of God ; his promise never fails. Learn, 
also, that he uses instruments to accomplish his 
purpose, and it is the privilege of every child of 
God to be his instrument. Daniel was faithful in 
making known to this heathen prince the Lord God 
of heaven, by whose power he had triumphed ; and 
thus was his heart moved for the deliverance of the 
captives, and to become " the Shepherd of Israel," 
performing all that God had promised. 

Susie. He seems to admit the truth, that the 
God of Israel is the supreme God. 

Edward. He not only proclaimed liberty to the 
captives ; he also restored the sacred vessels for 
the temple service — to them a precious treasure. 

Jennie. "Ezra, says five thousand four hundred 
gold and silver vessels. 

Susie. Cyrus also commanded those who re- 
mained, to aid those who went, with money, beasts 
of burden, and other things necessary for their 
long journey. 

Edward. Large offerings were also made for the 
building of the temple. 

Mrs. S. The number of persons in this com- 
pany who left for the land of their fathers, was 
fifty thousand. Zorobabel, the prince of the 
house of David, was their leader, and Joshua their 
high priest ; both of them eminent servants of 
God, and fitted for their office. There were also 
two prophets, — Haggai and Zechariah. 

Edward. Was Zorobabel the grandson, or great- 
grandson of Jehoiachin ? 



/ r o8 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. He was the great-grandson. A daugh- 
ter of Jehoiachin married Neri, a descendant of 
David by his son Nathan. Shealtiel, or Salathiel, 
was their son. Salathiel died childless, but his 
brother Pedaiah married his widow, and Zorobabel 
was his son. 

Edward. This settles a difficulty. In i Chron. 
3:19, Zerubbabel is said to be the son of Pedaiah, 
but in Matt. 1 : 12 and Luke 3 : 27, the son of 
Salathiel. He was really the son Pedaiah, but, by 
the law of the Israelites, of Salathiel. 

Mrs. S. It settles several difficulties. Jehoia- 
chin had no son to sit upon his throne, as Jeremiah 
had declared, though in Matthew, Salathiel is put 
down as his son — the daughter as was the custom 
not named. Then, in Luke, Salathiel is put down 
the son of Neri, because Luke's genealogy is that 
of Mary in her husband's name, and she was 
descended from Neri, and he from Nathan, son of 
David. Matthew gives the royal line, which is that 
of Joseph. 

Susie. I am glad of this explanation, for I could 
never straighten it out myself. 

Edward. The first work of these returned cap- 
tives was the setting up an altar for God, and the 
offering of the morning and evening sacrifice. 
This was at the beginning of the seventh month. 
They also kept the feast of tabernacles, and the 
other religious services of the month in their order. 

Jennie. The great object which they had in 
view, was the building of the temple. 



CONVERSATION XLI. 409 

Edward. And they very soon began this great 
work, for the foundations were laid on the second 
month of the second year. 

Jennie, On this occasion there was a real scene, 
for the younger ones shouted with a great shout, 
while those who had seen the first temple wept 
aloud ; so that the weeping and the shouting 
together, made a grand chorus. 

Mrs. S. But while they began the work with so 
much zeal, they did not persevere ; for fifteen years 
after this, nothing was to be seen but the founda- 
tions. 

Susie. This was not altogether their fault, for 
they had had some real hindrances. The Samari- 
tans, that people so mixed up, and of such a 
mongrel religion, — " fearing God and serving other 
gods " — threw great obstacles in their way. 

Edward. Yes, because Zerubbabel would not 
permit these Samaritans to join with them in build- 
ing the- temple, letters, charging them with rebellion, 
were sent to the kings of Persia ; so that for two 
reigns — Cambyses and Smerdis, called in Scripture 
Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes — the work ceased. 
When Darius Hystaspes came to the throne, letters 
of the same import were sent to him also ; but he 
investigated the matter, and found the accusation 
false, and that they were acting in accordance with 
the decree of Cyrus. He then renewed the decree, 
furnishing means as did Cyrus for going on with 
the work. 



4-IO LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. But a sad change seemed to have come 
over this people ; for instead of zeal, so great was 
their indifference that these advantages were dis- 
regarded. Absorbed with the building of their own 
houses, they excused their neglect of this duty by 
saying : " The time is not come, the time that the 
Lord's house should be built." 

Susie. The prophet reproved them with great 
plainness. 

Edward. Yes, he comes to them with this ques- 
tion from God : " Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell 
in your ceiled houses, and this house to lie wasted ? " 
I think these reproofs should come home to oicr 
hearts, for we are guilty of the same sin, and should 
" consider our ways." He declares that the calam- 
ities they had suffered were in judgment, " because 
of mine house that is waste, and ye run every one 
to his own house." God has visited us, I believe, 
for this very sin ; we spend our silver and gold for 
selfish purposes, instead of dedicating it to God. 
And is not this great financial pressure which we 
suffer, an evidence of God's anger ? Has not the 
money earned been " put into a bag with holes ? "* 

Mrs. S. I cannot read the book of Haggai 
without being thus impressed. Zerubbabel and 
Joshua are especially addressed by the prophet. 
I presume they had become greatly discouraged by 
the indifference of the people, so that they had 
ceased their efforts ; but they are now roused to 

* Hag. i : 6. 



CONVERSATION XLI. 411 

action, and the people are so much moved that in 
three weeks they are hard at work on the temple. 

Jennie. A month after this, Haggai comes to 
them with a message of encouragement. God com- 
mands him to declare that " the glory of this latter 
house shall be greater than of the former ; " for 
"the Desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill 
this house with glory." 

Edward. Jesus was the Deliverer so long ex- 
pected ; and this very house was filled with his 
glory, though he was not welcomed by those whom 
he came to save. 

Mrs. S. Still the divine promise was fulfilled : 
"In this place I will give peace," for there was 
peace with God for guilty man, through the blood 
of the cross ; and " as many as received him to 
them, gave he power to become the sons of God, 
even to them that believe on his name." 

Edward. The promise to Zerubbabel was, that 
as a signet he shall be precious in the sight of 
God ; his kingdom shall stand when all others fall. 
This promise was given to Zerubbabel as a type of 
Christ, and in Him it is fulfilled, for His kingdom 
is an everlasting kingdom. 

Susie. In five years the temple was finished, and 
its dedication was a great event. This was 515 
B. C. From this time, for fifty-eight years, we have 
no history of this people. 

Edward. Then the decree of which we have 
spoken, was given to Ezra by Artaxerxes Longi- 



412 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

manus, and he led the second company of exiles to 
the home of their fathers. 

Mrs. S. Sometime, however, during these fifty- 
eight years, the story of Esther comes in, with the 
plot of Hainan for the destruction of the Jews, and 
their wonderful deliverance ; the time when, 
depending upon which Persian king was Ahasuerus, 
the husband of Esther. 

Edward. Several have been named as probably 
her royal husband ; but with Josephus, I believe 
Artaxerxes Longimanus was the favored king. My 
reasons for this are : first, that when Nehemiah 
asked permission of this king to go to Jerusalem, 
he speaks of "the queen also sitting by him," 
apparently as a reason for the favorable answer 
which was given, and this must have been Esther ; 
second, the great favor shown by this king to Ezra 
and Nehemiah, and to the Jewish nation. I might 
also say, that in this belief I find myself in com- 
pany with many eminent men. 

Jennie. The divorce of Vashti and the marriage 
of Esther, were in the third year of his reign ; the 
decree given to Ezra, the seventh, and to Nehe- 
miah, the twentieth. We cannot help believing 
that the favor of Artaxerxes to Ezra and Nehemiah 
was from the influence of Esther. 

Susie. And by her means the whole nation was 
saved from the destruction plotted against them by 
Haman. 

Mrs. S. In reading the book of Esther, we can 



CONVERSATION XLI. 413 

trace a wonderful chain of providential events, 
which led step by step to the accomplishment of 
this deliverance. 

Edward. Mordecai reminds Esther, in this hour 
of danger, that her exalted position imposes cor- 
responding obligations. He sees the hand of God 
in her exaltation, and looks to her as the instrument 
in effecting their deliverance. 

Mrs. S. He says to her : " Who knoweth that 

thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as 

this? " He has great faith, being sure that deliver- 

. ance will come, even if Esther does not perform 

her duty. 

Jennie. Let us trace this chain of providences. 
The first link is the divorce of Vashti, and the next 
Esther's beauty captivating the king's heart, so 
that she becomes the royal bride. 

Susie. Then Mordecai's devotion to his foster- 
child, brings him to the palace. 

Edward. And mingling with the courtiers, he 
finds out the conspiracy against the king, makes it 
known, and thus saves his life. This is recorded 
in the Chronicles of the nation. Mordecai offends 
Haman by not bowing down to him ; and the 
decree for the destruction of every Jew in the 
realm is signed by the king, and issued by the royal 
command. 

Mrs. S. The case to human eye now seems hope- 
less ; but Mordecai goes to God ; he also makes 
known to Esther their danger, and with faithfulness 



414 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

impresses the obligation that rests upon her. She 
sees nothing that she can do, only to unite in 
pleading for divine aid. The faithfulness of 
Mordecai, with the neglect of the king, shut her up 
to seek relief alone from God. The throne of 
grace is her only refuge ; her prayer, the cry of 
drowning Peter: " Lord, save or we perish," with 
the faith of wrestling Jacob : " I will not let thee 
go except thou bless me." 

Edward. After days of fasting and prayer, 
she is ready to lay down her life for her people ; 
she sees her duty, and is willing to perform it. 
"I will go in unto the king ; if I perish, I perish." 

Mrs. S. And blessed is the result ; the king's 
heart being moved by the King of kings, he holds 
out to her the golden sceptre. 

Susie. Esther also receives wisdom from God 
in making her request. 

Jennie. And at the banquet, is divinely guided 
to defer her petition. 

Edward. This delay was of the utmost import- 
ance ; for the events that transpired in the interval, 
seemed the very means necessary to ensure success. 
The sleeplessness of the king on that night, his 
reading of the Chronicles, — the finger of God 
pointing to the very page on which that deed of 
Mordecai was recorded, which saved his life — the 
gallows by Hainan prepared for Mordecai, and yet 
Haman required to do him honor. Thus on this dav, 
the foster-father of the queen stands first in the king's 



CONVERSATION XLI. 415 

favor, so that the conspiracy against him and his 
race provokes the royal vengeance, the gallows pre- 
pared for Mordecai by Hainan, proving his guilt. 
" Hang him thereon," is the merited penalty. Thus 
is Mordecai advanced to the place of highest 
honor ; the people of God delivered ; the race of 
Amalek, under the curse of God, forever put out of 
remembrance.* 

Mrs. S. Now look at the favor bestowed upon 
Ezra. Appointed by the king to lead the second 
band of exiles to the home of their fathers, he is 
commissioned to regulate the affairs of the nation, 
setting magistrates and judges over the people, and 
requiring them to obey the laws of God and of the 
king. He is also entrusted with a large amount of 
gold and silver, freely offered by the king, his 
counsellors, and the people of the land, " unto the 
God of Israel." 

Edward. This good man honors God by his 
faith in Him, for he would not ask of the king a 
guard, having assured him " The hand of our God 
is upon all them for good that seek him." Look- 
ing, therefore, to God in earnest prayer, with faith 
in his promises ; he leads this helpless company 
through their four months' journey free from harm ; 
and his treasure of gold and silver is borne in safety 
through all the region so dangerous to the traveler. 

Susie. The king also gave to Ezra his decree to 
the governors beyond the river, that they should 

* Ex. 17 : 14. 



41 6 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

speedily supply him with whatever he should 
require. 

Mrs. S. Ezra was a priest and a ready scribe in 
the law of God, and the most important work that 
he performed, was his collecting together the sacred 
writings, arranging them in order, and making 
important additions ; probably writing the Chroni- 
cles as well as the book that bears his name. All 
this he did by divine inspiration ; he is therefore 
indeed "a second Moses," as the Jews always con- 
sider him. 

Susie. Nehemiah was also an eminent man. 

Mrs. S. He was an eminent patriot, distin- 
guished for wisdom, energy and devotion to God. 
He loved his country, he grieved for its desolation, 
and for the glory of God he desired to build it up. 
He was fearless of his enemies from confidence in 
God ; his heart wholly engaged in building up His 
kingdom. In his character was an overcoming 
faith, and a sublime heroism in the performance of 
duty. 

Edward. His influence had power both upon 
those who opposed, and upon those who labored 
with him. 

Jennie. How many difficulties were overcome 
in building the wall. His spirit was infused into 
his men, for they " had a mind to work," and the 
wall was completed in fifty-two days. 

Mrs. S. Then it was dedicated to God, with the 
voice of thanksgiving and instruments of music. 



CONVERSATION XLI. 417 

Edward. Nehemiah's office of cup-bearer to the 
king was an honorable one, for the person thus 
employed was of a high rank. 

Jennie. The king thought a great deal of him, 
and seemed unwilling to have him leave, enquiring 
how long he would be gone. 

Susie. I wonder how long he did stay. 

Mrs. S. Some think he returned after the wall 
was completed, and that after a time he was 
appointed the Governor of Judea. 

Edward. He was just the man for this office, 
and seems to have brought order out of confusion, 
and light out of darkness. 

Jennie. In the fifth chapter, we have a sad 
account of the poverty of the people, and the 
oppression of their rulers. 

Mrs. S. But their civil condition was not so 
bad as their condition moral and religious. The 
priests were especially given to a violation of the 
law of God. Ezra and Nehemiah, with the 
prophet Malachi, labored earnestly for their refor- 
mation. Marriage with heathen women was a sin, 
which brought with it a train of evil deeds ; as 
Sabbath-breaking, neglect of the offerings required, 
indulgence in selfish gratification, instead of. devo- 
tion to the service of God. 

Edward. An account of a Feast of Tabernacles 
is given, the people all assembled and dwelling in 
booths ; and that during the eight days, Ezra read 
to them from the book of the law. 

27 



418 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. He stood in a pulpit, or on a high place, 
so that they could all see him. 

Mrs. S. He also expounded the law, and led 
them in the worship of God. Then they humbled 
themselves, and kept a fast, confessing their sins 
and entering into covenant with God. To this 
covenant they subscribed their names, and Nehe- 
miah's name is the first on the list that is given. 
We do not know the date of this event, but in 432 
B. C. — the thirty-second year of the reign of 
Artaxerxes — Nehemiah made a visit to the king ; 
and during his absence, the people returned to their 
evil ways. In the last chapter, he gives an account 
of their violations of the law of God, and his 
efforts for their reformation. This is the close of 
Old Testament History. 



CONVERSATION XLII. 



VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS EXPLANATION OF 

THE VISION WHAT DENOTED BY THE TEN 

HORNS STATE OF THE WORLD AND THE 

CHURCH THE LITTLE HORN THE 

PAPAL CHURCH THE CONTEST 

THE DECISION THE THREE 

RIBS CLAIMS OF THE 

POPE PERSECU- 
TION. 

J ENNIE. I am very glad that we can go on 
Of with Daniel's prophecies to-night ; there are so 
many things I want explained. 

Susie. I am pleased to be again with this dear, 
good man. Is it known how long he lived after 
the taking of Babylon ? 

Mrs. Selwyn. His last vision was in the third 
year of Cyrus, five years after the city was taken ; 
and this is the last time he is mentioned. 

Edward. His first vision was in the first year of 
Belshazzar's reign. This was of the four great 
beasts — emblems of the four great empires repre- 
sented in Nebuchadnezzar's dream by an image. 

Mrs. S. Yes ; those mighty monarchs that 



420 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

brought the world under their dominion, appear to 
Daniel as wild beasts coming up from the dashing 
waves of a stormy sea ; in itself an apt emblem of 
the condition of affairs in the kingdoms of men. 

Susie. The first beast was a lion, with eagle's 
wings ; and there could not be a more striking 
representation of Nebuchadnezzar ; the lion, an 
animal so noble, with eagle's wings, denoting the 
rapidity of his conquests. 

Mrs. S. And then the wings being plucked, 
gives a good idea of the state of things under his 
successors. 

Jennie. The second animal was a bear ; an 
animal inferior to the lion, like the silver in the 
image, inferior to the gold ; and the Persians were 
inferior to the Babylonians. The bear's raising 
itself upon one side, and having three ribs in his 
mouth — please, mother, explain. 

Mrs. S. The three ribs are the three dominions 
conquered by the Medo-Persians. Cyrus, by 
taking Babylon, got possession of all the Chaldean 
empire except Egypt, which had revolted. Egypt 
was, however, again subdued by Cambyses, the son 
of Cyrus. The third rib was the dominion of 
Cresus, king of Lydia, whom Cyrus conquered ; 
thus adding Asia Minor to his vast empire. The 
bear's raising itself on one side, represents that of 
the two kingdoms, Media and Persia, one only 
increasing in power. This was Persia, which, at first 
inferior to Media, became the head of the empire. 






CONVERSATION XLII. 42 1 

Edward. "Arise, devour much flesh," indicates 
greediness, which is surely seen in the effort of 
Persia to conquer Greece, first by Darius Hys- 
taspes, and then by Xerxes, with his army of five 
millions. 

Jennie. The next animal, I am sure, represents 
Alexander the Great ; and there could not be a 
better emblem of him than the leopard, so remark- 
able for swiftness and for leaping suddenly upon 
his prey ; then with four wings, flying as well as 
leaping ; for Alexander is said to have conquered 
countries more rapidly than others could travel 
through them. Thus in four years all the countries 
from India to Ethiopia were his dominion, and he 
wept that there were no more worlds to conquer. 
This monarch of the world, made Babylon his 
proud capital. 

Susie. The leopard had also four heads, and 
here is another remarkable emblem ; for though a 
mighty conqueror, death was mightier than he ; and 
when he was gone, many contended for the vacant 
throne, until at length this vast dominion was 
divided between four of his great captains. 

Jennie. Now we come to the fourth beast, more 
dreadful and terrible than any Daniel knew of, so 
that he could not give it a name ; with its great 
iron teeth devouring everything, or stamping to 
pieces with his feet. This beast must be Rome ; in 
Nebuchadnezzar's image, the legs of iron repre- 
sented by Julius Caesar, the great conqueror. 



42 2 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. Yes, this beast was the emblem of 
Rome ; that mighty empire extending from India to 
the Atlantic. She was indeed the mistress of the 
world ; and at the birth of Christ, this vast empire 
was at peace. The seventy weeks were nearly at 
an end, the sceptre departing, and yet lingering in 
Judah, for a prince of her own nation was on the 
throne ; yet still so subject to the Roman power, 
that the decree of Caesar Augustus must be obeyed, 
and Joseph and Mary repair to their ancestral 
home, just in time for Jesus, David's promised son, 
to be born in Bethlehem Ephratah, as Micah had 
declared seven hundred years before.* 

Edward. Now, mother, I would like to ask if 
the ten horns of this beast, as well as the ten toes 
of the image, do not indicate a division in this 
empire ? 

Mrs. S. They do. A horn is an emblem of 
power, and the ten horns are ten kings or king- 
doms. Rome on the pinnacle of glory, while 
lifted up with pride, was enervated by luxury ; and 
the hardy tribes of the north invading her do- 
minions, entered in triumph the imperial city. 
With her spirit of loftiness, she had looked down 
upon them with disdain ; but these chieftains of the 
north soon showed the proud Roman they were not 
to be despised ; for by four invasions, the empire 
fell beneath their power, and her vast dominions 
were divided between these various tribes : the 

* Micah 5:2. 



CONVERSATION XLII. 423 

Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Suevi, Heruli, Lombards, 
Alans, Franks, Angles and Saxons, Burgundians 
or Langobards, and the Vandals. These ten divis- 
ions are given by historians having no interest in 
showing the fulfillment of prophecy. As the domin- 
ions of Alexander were originally divided into four 
parts, so the Roman empire, in its primary division, 
was between ten different powers. 

Edward. We have seen judgments visited upon 
nations, as for instance, Egypt, Edom, Nineveh 
and Babylon, for their oppression of God's people, 
and I am sure Rome may be added to this number. 
The destruction of Jerusalem and of God's cove- 
nant people, with the ten bloody persecutions of 
the Christians in the first three centuries after 
Christ, must truly have called down judgments 
upon a nation guilty of such an effort to overthrow 
the kingdom of God. 

Jennie. And this makes me think of what we 
have read about the little horn. Please, mother, 
give us some account of this power, this little horn 
which rose up among the other ten. 

Mrs. S. I will do so, but first I would like to speak 
of the state of affairs, both civil and religious, at 
the period when it rose. Between 356 and 583 A. 
D. these ten kingdoms rose. The fall of Rome, or 
the triumph of the fourth invasion, was 476 A. D. 
The little horn is the Papal church — the power 
assumed by the church of Rome. It did not rise 
until after the other ten horns. Rome and Con- 



424 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

stantinople were the two chief cities of the empire, 
the capitals of the East and the West. A contest 
had arisen between the bishops of these two cities, 
each claiming to be the head of the Christian 
church. After the fall of Rome, and the barbarian 
invaders had possession of this city, the Roman 
emperor resided in Constantinople, and the bishop's 
power in Rome was much increased. In this con- 
test, the Emperor Justinian, in the sixth century, 
took the part of the bishop of Rome, addressing 
him as head of the church, and in his book of laws 
admitting his right to the supremacy. In 606 the 
Emperor Phocas confirmed this grant of Justinian, 
and issued an edict, declaring the bishop of Rome 
the supreme head of the church ; and since that 
time he has received the title of papa or pope. 
This, however, caused a division in the church ; 
the one with the bishop of Constantinople as its 
head was called the Greek church, and the other — 
its presiding head the bishop of Rome — the Roman 
Catholic. It is important here to say that the 
patriarch of Constantinople has never assumed the 
power that has been claimed by the pope of Rome. 
The pope is the little horn. 

Edward. The next thing is to show how this 
horn with eyes like the " eyes of a man, and a 
mouth speaking great things," has used this power ; 
and which three horns were plucked up, according 
to Daniel's description, verse eighth. 

Susie. I presume the first bishop began quite 



CONVERSATION XLII. 425 

moderate, and that succeeding bishops gradually 
assumed more power. I do not, however, think 
any of them took the Bible as their guide. 

Edward. From the stand taken in the contest 
with the patriarch, I should not think he had any 
regard for the Bible. One point in the dispute 
was, the use of images in divine worship ; the 
bishop of Rome asserting the right to use images, 
and the patriarch opposing this, but approving the 
use of pictures. This difference in these churches 
still continues ; the one giving honor to an image, 
the other to a picture. 

Jennie. I do not think either of them searched 
the Scriptures. 

Edward. Relics also soon began to be regarded 
with great veneration ; as, for instance, the legs of 
the ass on which Joseph and Mary rode when 
going to Egypt with the infant Jesus, the wood of 
the cross, the milk of the virgin mother, the bones 
of saints and martyrs, and an endless variety of 
other things. 

Mrs. S. Those who united with the church had 
little knowledge of the Bible, and paganism became 
mingled with Christianity. When the profession of 
faith in Christ was considered a crime, and perse- 
cution the consequence, there was little temptation 
to put on the semblance of piety without posses- 
sing it ; but after the conversion of the Emperor 
Constantine, and the profession of the Christian 
religion being a passport to civil honor, the church 



426 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

became corrupt. Under Theodosius pagan temples 
were destroyed, and the Christian religion made 
the religion of the empire ; but it was the form 
without the power. 

Jennie. Before the invention of the art of print- 
ing, people could not have the Bible to read. All 
they could know of it was by hearing it read in 
church, and it was chained to keep it from being 
carried off. I have heard that in England, in the 
thirteenth century, it would take a man thirty 
years to buy a Bible by his own labor. 

Mrs. S. What you say is true. It was ignorance 
of the Bible that led to so much error. Demonology, 
or the worship of heroes and heroines, was common 
among pagans, and veneration for martyrs and 
saints led to the same kind of idolatry. Salvation 
by works was preached by those who were guides 
to the people, and austerities, or self-denying cere- 
monies, took the place of vital godliness ; so that 
the religion of the church became a scheme of 
man's devising. 

Susie. The Waldenses inhabiting the valleys 
among the mountains, were almost the only ones 
who held the gospel in its purity for some hundreds 
of years, but they held on to the Bible. 

Mrs. S. You know these words of the poet : 

11 Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell ; 
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel." 

Thus self-exaltation, or the assumption of divine 
power, opened the way to soul-destroying errors. 



CONVERSATION XLII. 427 

Edward. I see your idea, mother. Conferring 
supreme power upon one man in the church, 
would naturally lead him to grasp higher honors. 
He would argue on this wise : I am the head of the 
highest power on earth, and therefore civil rulers 
are under me. The pope first assumed Apostolic 
authority, claiming to be the successor of St. Peter ; 
but before very many centuries, we find him de- 
claring himself Christ's vicar and vice-gerent on 
earth, and thus as Paul foresaw : " As God he 
sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that 
he is God."* Paul thus carries out the prediction 
of Daniel. 

Mrs. S. It would seem impossible to read history 
and not see that this description of the " man of 
sin " is verified in the language and requirements 
of the pope of Rome. I will mention some of the 
titles which he has claimed, and these from good 
authority : " Our Lord God the Pope ; " " King of 
kings and Lord of lords ; " " Most holy Lord ; " 
" The victorious God and man in his see of Rome." 

Susie. Daniel says, " I beheld, and the same 
horn made war upon the saints, and prevailed 
against them." 

Jennie. And I am sure the pope of Rome has 
done this ; for how much the Waldenses — the 
Bible Christians of the Dark Ages — suffered from 
this persecuting power. Milton says of these 
persecutors : " Before them was the sleep of inno- 

* 2 Thess. 2 : 4. 



428 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

cence, behind the sleep of death." And the 
number of this people destroyed, as given in 
history, is one million. 

Edward. Then look at the martyrs in England 
and Scotland, and the thousands put to death in 
Holland, Netherlands and Bohemia ; the multitudes 
that perished in France at the revocation of the 
Edict of Nantes ; and the bloody massacre of St. 
Bartholomew, for which the pope had the Te Deum 
sung ; add to these the horrors of the Inquisition, 
by which awful tribunal the death of thousands a 
year was common, with tortures too fearful to 
think of. Thus has the vengeance of the " man of 
sin" been manifested against those who have dared 
to receive the gospel plan of salvation, as revealed 
in the word of God. Surely the prophecy, " He 
shall wear out the saints of the Most High," has 
been fulfilled. 

Mrs. S. The spirit of the papal church, 
although shorn of its power, is the same to-day as 
in the ages past. This was shown by Pius IX in 
the imprisonment of the Madai in Florence for 
reading and teaching the Bible, as well as in many 
other ways. The present pope — but recently ap- 
pointed — though at first seeming rather compliant, 
now claims the same rights as his predecessors, 
manifesting a disposition to domineer over men 
and nations, and stirring up efforts to regain his 
temporal dominion. There seems indeed in Rome 
and in other parts of Italy, a death struggle be- 



CONVERSATION XLII. 

tween popery and the gospel of Christ ; legions of 
priests being combined against the Bible and 
evangelical worship. 

Edward. The Report of the Free Italian 
Church, in the Christian World for July, 1879, is a 
wonderful document. It shows in the first place 
that this church is wide awake in circulating the 
Bible, and in proclaiming the gospel ; and also 
that there is the same persecuting spirit in the 
church of Rome as in former times. This appears 
in doing evil to believers in Jesus not only in their 
houses of worship ; but priests, friars and nuns 
follow people to their homes and places of 
business, the hospitals and the death-beds, with 
their fanatical devices, to induce men, and especial- 
ly women, to renounce the way of salvation by 
Christ. 

Susie. He shall think to change times and laws, 
describes the pope. 

Edward. Paul gives some changes of laws 
which he would make ; and in making them, he 
has shown himself the "man of sin." " Forbidding 
to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats." 

Jennie. His laws in regard to eating are ridicu- 
lous — a time for this, and a time for that ; when to 
eat meat and when not to eat it ; also when to eat 
fish, and when eggs, and when not to eat them. 
And the saints' days are almost without number. 
In this appointment of times, he has shown himself 
the little horn. 



43° LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. God has appointed " one Mediator be- 
tween God and man, the man Christ Jesus ; " but 
the pope has changed this law of God, setting 
forth a host of mediators, the Virgin Mary at the 
head of them. 

Jennie. Jesus says, " Search the Scriptures ; " 
but the pope and his priests do all they can to pre- 
vent the reading of the Bible, even some times 
burning it ; and no wonder that they do, for if their 
people read this blessed book, they would surely 
find out the difference between their teaching and 
the word of God. 

Mrs. S. Another change made by this church, 
saps the foundation of the Christian's hope ; as in- 
stead of the* gospel plan of salvation, the plan is 
really of man's devising ; for according to the 
church of Rome salvation is not by faith in Christ, 
but by performing good works — such works for in- 
stance, as repeating forms of prayer, the greater 
the number of times the more merit ; paying money 
for masses for the dead, and doing penance, or 
making one's self as uncomfortable as possible — 
and that they can even do more than enough to 
obtain salvation— works of supererogation. 

Jennie. But, mother, the three horns, that fell 
before the little horn, you have forgotten to tell us. 
Please explain how this was brought about. 

Mrs. S. I will do so. Pope Zachary, by con- 
ferring the regal authority on Pepin, king of 
France, obtained his aid in securing that part of 



CONVERSATION XLII. 43 1 

Italy which had been seized by the Lombards, the 
Heruli-Turingi, and the Ostrogoths. This was 
A. D. 752. He aspired to civil power as well as 
spiritual. This territory was called the States of 
the Church ; and from this time until stripped of 
his possessions by Victor Emanuel, each pope was 
a civil ruler of this dominion. His civil power is 
now gone, and his spiritual power much lessened ; 
still he claims to be infallible, and as God, sits in 
the temple of God. 

Edward. The fourth beast, therefore, still claims 
supreme power over the nations through the 
little horn. His power was to continue for a time, 
times, and half a time — one year, two years, and 
half a year, which is twelve hundred and sixty 
days : and as in prophetic language a day is put for 
a year, the time is twelve hundred and sixty years. 
But the event that marked the beginning of this 
period is not so plainly stated that we can know 
just when it will close. 

Mrs. S. This is true. We know not the time 
of the end ; nor do I attempt to explain prophecies 
that are not fulfilled. 



CONVERSATION XLIII. 



THE TWO BEASTS EXPLAINED. THE FOUR HORNS. 

THE LITTLE HORN. MAHOMET AND HIS RELI- 
GION. — Daniel's sadness. — his vision. — 

THE ANGEL'S COMMUNICATION. KINGS 

OF THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH. 

CTUSIE. This vision of Daniel, given in the 
'X eighth chapter, was in the third year of Bel- 
shazzar's reign. The city at this time may have 
been besieged. 

Edward. This is very probable. We do not 
know how long the government was in Belshazzar's 
hands, his father leaving him in charge of the king- 
dom, while he sought to overthrow the Medes and 
Persians. Daniel says that at this time he was at 
Shushan the palace. 

Jennie. In this vision he has another view of 
Persia ; this time under the emblem of a ram push- 
ing northward, southward, and westward ; the very 
directions, I think, in which the Persians made 
their conquests. 

Mrs. Selwyn. The ram was the national emblem 
of the Persians — our emblem, as you know, is the 
eagle. Then of the two horns it is said, the higher 



CONVERSATION XLIII. 433 

came up last. This represents what in the former 
vision was denoted by the bear raising itself on one 
side. Media at this time was a powerful kingdom, 
but Persia rose with Cyrus, and gave name to the 
empire ; Media being lost sight of. 

Edward. Persia was for two hundred years a 
great and flourishing empire, though the effort to 
extend her dominion beyond the seas was a failure, 
and only roused the wrath of the Greeks. 

Jennie. The wrath of the goat you should say ; 
for Alexander was sovereign of all Greece ; and, 
instead of a leopard, he is here represented by a 
goat, which I believe was the national emblem of 
Macedon. But as a goat he almost flew ; for his 
feet touched not the ground ; and in three battles, 
Granicus, Issus and Arbela, with his one horn, he 
threw the ram down, broke his horns, and stamped 
upon him. The greatest obstacle that he met with 
was the city of Tyre, and that fell before him. 

Susie. But how soon this great horn was broken. 
The conqueror of the world fell before that fiery 
foe, that " biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an 
adder." 

Mrs. S. In looking at the conquests of Alex- 
ander, it is important to understand, that while 
for his own glory he brought the world under his 
dominion, yet he thus prepared the way for the 
extension of the kingdom of Christ. The Greek 
language traveled with his arms, and planted itself 
with his colonies, and thus a common language, the 

28 



434 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

language of literature and science, became known 
to the world. Ptolemy Philadelphia, one of his 
successors in Egypt, by the translation of the Old 
Testament into Greek, thus opened this sacred 
volume to the nations. The Septuagint was the 
version in use in the time of our Saviour, and the 
books in the New Testament were written in this 
language. 

Edward. I am very glad, mother, that you have 
called our attention to a subject of so much import- 
ance. 

Mrs. S. Now you may go on with Daniel's 
vision. 

Edward. Of these four divisions Seleucus had 
the lion's share, for his dominion extended from 
India to the Mediterranean. The prophecies re- 
specting this horn, or rather the little horn that 
came up out of it, fill up the remainder of the 
vision. 

Mrs. S. The reason for this is, that the land of 
God's chosen people was the scene of the bloody 
and desolating wars carried on by the Seleucidae 
and Ptolemies for its possession. A successor of 
Seleucus, Antiochus Epiphanes, is here described, 
not, however, as the little horn that in later times 
should grow out of this horn of the third beast, but 
as a type of it. There is often a double meaning 
to a prophecy ; one person or event in its character 
or influence being a representative of another. 
Thus in Isaiah's prophecy of Cyrus as the deliverer 



CONVERSATION XLIII. 435 

from the Babylonish captivity ; Cyrus is a type of 
Christ ; and this deliverance typical of the bless- 
ings received through Him. So also in Matt. 24. 
the destruction of Jerusalem is foretold, and the 
end of the world ; the one event being the type of 
the other ; the predictions referring more imme- 
diately sometimes to one, and then to the other. 

Edward. Do you not think, mother, that this 
little horn of the third beast is the Mahommedan 
power ? It cannot be the same as the little horn of 
the fourth beast, but it is a power equally hostile to 
the kingdom of Christ, and the truth as made 
known in the Word of God. 

Mrs. S. Yes, I have always, since examining the 
subject, felt sure of this. Antiochus Epiphanes is 
also without any question here predicted, and the 
predictions are by him fulfilled to the very letter : 
while the latter part of the prophecy is a striking 
description of Mahomet. Antiochus put a stop to 
the daily sacrifice, set up a statue of Jupiter in the 
temple ; offered swine's flesh upon the altar ; cast 
down the host of heaven, or those who were faithful 
to God, putting to death great numbers, and mag- 
nifying himself against the Prince of the host, even 
the eternal God. But we will now leave Antiochus, 
and consider the prophecy in reference to Ma- 
homet. 

Susie. I was wishing you would do this ; I think 
in the explanation by the angel Gabriel, Mahomet 
is described. He says : " In the latter time of 



436 LIGHT FROM HISTORY 

these kingdoms, when transgressors are come to the 
full, a king of fierce countenance, and understand- 
ing dark sentences, shall stand up." It was after 
transgressors were come to the full, and this must 
have been after the Jews had crucified Christ. 

Mrs. S. Yes, I think you are right ; and the 
church of Christ had also at this time become 
greatly corrupted. This we saw last evening, when 
considering the little horn of the fourth beast. 
There was a remarkable coincidence in the rise of 
these two horns. In the same year A. D. 606, the 
bishop of Rome began his career as the supreme 
head of the church, and Mahomet proclaimed him- 
self a messenger from God, greater than either 
Moses or Jesus Christ. Thus, as Dr. Prideaux 
says : " Antichrist seems at the same time to have 
set both his feet on Christendom, the one in the 
east, and the other in the west." From the revela- 
tion given to John it seems plain, that both shall at 
the same time come to an end. 

Edward. We can see the influence of these two 
forms of false religion, and how Satan uses them to 
blind the eyes of millions to the Gospel plan of sal- 
vation. The one suppressed the Word of God, 
making the teachings of the church the guide to 
heaven ; the other gave to his followers the Koran, 
which he declared a new revelation from God, 
made known to him by the angel Gabriel. 

Mrs. S. The dark sentences spoken of are seen 
in the Koran ; for there is much obscurity, or no 



CONVERSATION XLIII. 437 

meaning at all in some parts ; while in others there 
is that which is pleasing to the human heart ; as the 
paradise prepared for those faithful to the prophet, 
— a paradise of sensual enjoyment ; and those who 
fall fighting for the faith, are assured of a special 
reward. 

Jennie. Beautiful houries, or female angels, are 
to minister to their delight, but no woman is prom- 
ised a place in this paradise. 

Mrs. S. It would seem that nothing is promised 
to woman in this system of religion, either for this 
world or the world to come. She is degraded and 
down-trodden. 

Edward. " A king of fierce countenance " I 
think describes Mahomet, for it was by the sword 
he brought the nations to his faith. 

Susie. Yes, he said he was sent with the sword, 
because men had rejected Moses and Jesus Christ. 
Jews and Christians were to receive some favor, but 
pagans must receive his faith or suffer death. 

Edward. A letter of Dr. Field's in the Evangel- 
ist of this week, has given me some new ideas of 
Mahomet, and his religion. He says that Mahomet 
had epileptic fits. I always thought him a shrewd 
man, with a strong imagination, but I can now 
account for his visions by the delirium caused by 
epilepsy, for the most absurd vagaries are believed 
to be absolutely certain, by those under the influ- 
ence of this frenzy. 

Mrs. S. His visions were doubtless the result of 



438 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

a disordered intellect, and he may have believed 
that he received them from God, and thus more 
easily have led others to the same belief. The 
Koran contains truth as well as falsehood. He 
denounced idolatry, and taught the worship of the 
one living and true God, but while he followed 
some Bible precepts, yet the Bible must be put 
aside for the Koran ; though Moses and Jesus 
Christ were great in their day, yet he was greater 
than either, and salvation could only be obtained 
by obeying his commands. 

Edward. I was surprised at the number of Ma- 
hometans now on the globe ; at least one hundred 
and fifty millions, according to Dr. Field. Western 
Asia and northern Africa are all under the false 
prophet ; and Queen Victoria has more Mahometan 
subjects than the Sultan. 

Mrs. S. And they are more earnest in propagat- 
ing their faith than Christians are. This should 
lead Christians to take shame and blame to them- 
selves. 

Edward. Egypt is a stronghold of the prophet. 
Just think of that seminary in Cairo with ten thou- 
sand young men, all engaged in studying the Koran, 
so that they may be prepared to teach their faith to 
others. 

Jennie. Two acres of turbans in this institution, 
and living by their wits, I should think, for no one 
supports them ; neither teachers nor pupils. 

Susie. These Mahometans set an example to 



CONVERSATION XLIII. 439 

Christians. If the Bible was studied as they study 
the Koran, there would be such a revival in the 
Church, that men would go everywhere preaching 
the Gospel. 

Mrs. S. You may now turn to the tenth chapter, 
the commencement of Daniel's last vision. 

Edward. This was in the third year of Cyrus. 

Jennie. Daniel was now an old man. Cyrus 
was the ninth king in whose reign he had lived, 
and I will tell you their names. Nabopolasser was 
king when he was carried to Babylon. Then came 
Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-merodach, Neriglissar, La- 
borosoarchad, Nabonadius, Belshazzar, Darius and 
Cyrus. 

Susie. Daniel seems very sad. He says he had 
been mourning three full weeks, and that he had 
eaten no pleasant bread nor flesh, nor drank any 
wine. This was fasting ; was it not, mother ? 

Mrs. S. Yes, fasting as a religious exercise 
acceptable to God, is being so absorbed in supplica- 
tions at the mercy seat, as to have no relish for 
food, being quite insensible to bodily wants. 

Susie. But what could have been the cause of 
his great sorrow ? Do you think Cyrus could have 
become less friendly, or less interested for the cap- 
tive Jews ? 
. Mrs. S. We do not know. There may have 
been some trouble of this kind. The ministers of 
the Persian court may have opposed his purposes 
in their behalf. We know from Ezra, that after 



44° LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

the foundations of the temple were laid, the work 
ceased for fifteen years ; the people of the land 
causing the two kings that succeeded him to op- 
pose their interests. 

Edward. Daniel may also have been sad because 
so few of the captives were disposed to return to 
their own land. He, no doubt, remained from' a 
sense of duty, and they may have given his example 
as a reason they did not return. 

Mrs. S. This may have been the case, but God 
was his refuge, and with all his trials he went to the 
mercy-seat. 

Jennie. He was not at this time in Babylon. 

Mrs. S. _No — he was at the Persian capital, 
Susa or Shushan. This was on the Heddekel or 
Tigris, and it was on this river that he had this 
glorious vision of the Son of man, and such a won- 
derful revelation of events in the future ages. 
Will you, Jennie, please read the description of this 
divine personage ? 

Jennie [reads]. " Then I lifted up mine eyes 
and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in 
linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of 
Uphaz. His body also was like the beryl, and his 
face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as 
lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color 
to polished brass, and the voice of his words like 
the voice of a multitude." 

Edward. The men that were with him quaked 
with fear, and Daniel himself sunk down upon the 
ground as one dead. 



CONVERSATION XLIII. 441 

Mrs. S. But the touch of a heavenly hand set 
him up upon his hands and feet, and he heard these 
words : " O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, under- 
stand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand 
upright." 

Susie. And then he stood trembling. But moth- 
er, I do not think it was the glorious Being who 
spoke to him. 

Mrs. S. No — it was a created angel. This angel 
explains to Daniel that his prayers had been heard, 
and that he had been immediately sent to make 
known the will of God ; but that for three intervening 
weeks, he had been engaged in bringing to nought 
the machinations against the people of God in the 
Persian court. This gives an intimation of the 
cause of Daniel's sorrow. The prince of Persia 
was probably Cambyses the son of Cyrus, who, in 
his father's absence, managed the affairs of the 
empire ; and who was a bitter enemy of the Jews. 
Michael was either the Son of God, or the special 
messenger to watch over the Jews. 

Edward. This communication from the angel 
so affected Daniel, that he again sunk upon the 
ground, and was unable to speak until another hea- 
venly messenger, in appearance as a man, was sent 
to comfort him. 

Jennie. When he had recovered, the angel said 
he would deliver his message, and then return 
to fight with the prince of Persia. He said also 
that he had been before sent to confirm and 



44 2 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

strengthen Darius the Mede. This shows that God 
employs the heavenly host to work out his purposes 
— does it not, mother ? 

Mrs. S. Yes — and that there is no idleness in 
heaven. Angels are "ministering spirits." 

Edward. The angel also says : "When I am gone 
forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come." If this 
means Alexander, as I suppose it does, it was two 
hundred years before he came, showing that time 
is not reckoned in heaven. 

Mrs. S. But the angel proceeds to mention in- 
tervening events. He says : " Now I will show 
thee the truth ; " plain naked truth, not a symbol- 
ical representation. Cyrus, you will bear in mind, 
was now king ; and he says that " there shall stand 
up yet three kings in Persia, " — Cambyses, Smerdis 
and Darius Hystaspes — " and the fourth shall be far 
richer than them all ; and by his strength through 
his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of 
Grecia." 

Edward. And I know who this fourth king was — 
Xerxes — and he really did stir up all the world 
against Grecia ; five millions in his army. Who but 
the Infinite One, who orders all things according to 
the counsel of His own will, could foresee these 
events, and cause them so exactly to take place. 

Susie. Then the angel again speaks of the king 
of Grecia, the mighty king, who should do accord- 
ing to his will. 

Jennie. This was Alexander ; but almost as 



CONVERSATION XLIII. 443 

soon as he had conquered the world ; the angel de- 
clares his kingdom is broken into four parts tow- 
ards the four winds of heaven ; and we know from 
history that Seleucus was east, Cassanda west, Ly- 
simachus north, and Ptolemy south. How wonder- 
ful this fulfillment of prophecy. 

Mrs. S. But in the prophecy that follows, two 
only of these kings are noticed, Seleucus and 
Ptolemy. The reason of this is plain — the land of 
God's , chosen people was that for which they con- 
tended, and the scene of their conflicts ; His own 
people the sufferers, and His holy place desecrated. 
Whatever relates to His church, His kingdom on 
earth, is worthy of a place in these sacred records. 
You will notice that here, Seleucus though possess- 
ing the east, is called the king of the north. The 
reason for this is plain, for Syria, in which was An- 
tioch his capital, was north of Palestine, as Egypt, 
Ptolemy's dominion, was south. 

Edward. The prophecy comes down to the 
death of Antiochus Epiphanes, that great oppressor 
of the people of God, the type of the Moslem power. 
The kings of this dynasty from the division of the 
empire, were Seleucus Nicator, Antiochus Soter, 
Antiochus Theos, Seleucus Callinicus, Seleucus 
Cerannus, Antiochus the great, Seleucus Philopater 
and Antiochus Epiphanes. Do you, Susie, know 
the kings of Egypt during this time ? 

Susie. I believe I do. Ptolemy Soter, Ptolemy 
Philadelphus, Ptolemy Evergetes, Ptolemy Philopa- 
ter, Ptolemy Epiphanes and Ptolemy Philometer. 



444 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. These two dynasties were very strong, 
but the Seleucidse had much the larger dominion, 
therefore strong above the other. Palestine by the 
original division belonged to Ptolemy ; but Seleu- 
cus claimed it, hence the contest during each suc- 
cessive reign foretold by Daniel. But these pro- 
phecies and their fulfillment we must leave till 
another evening. 



CONVERSATION XLIV. 



PTOLEMY AND SELEUCUS. PREDICTIONS FUL- 
FILLED. ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT. PTOLEMY 

PHILOPATER. SELEUCUS PHILOPATER. 

ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. PROPHECIES 

AND FULFILLMENT. CRUELTY 

TO THE JEWS. JUDAS MAC- 
CABEUS. DEATH OF 

ANTIOCHUS. 

IT 7TRS. SELWYN. We will this evening consider 
J I Daniel's prophecy of the kings of the North 
and of the South, and trace the fulfillment as 
given in History. You will keep in mind that these 
kings are the Seleucidae and the Ptolemies — kings 
of Syria and Egypt — and the contest for the land 
of God's chosen people. 

Edward. Ptolemy was strong, for he had Egypt, 
Lybia, Palestine, and possessions in Arabia and 
Asia Minor ; but Seleucus was "strong above him ;" 
for he had all the other countries in Asia as far as 
the Indus river. 

Mrs. S. The contentions between these kings 
began about forty years after the division of the 
empire, Antiochus Theos and Ptolemy Philadelphus 



446 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

being on the throne. Daniel's first prediction is, that 
"in the end of years they shall join themselves to- 
gether ; " the condition of the peace being, that 
" the king's daughter of the South shall come to the 
king of the North, to make an agreement " or mar- 
riage. Now, Susie, tell us what your History says 
concerning this. 

Susie. Ptolemy Philadelphia, according to the 
terms of the peace, accompanied his daughter 
Berenice to Seleucia, the port at the mouth of the 
Orontes ; and there Antiochus, having divorced his 
wife Laodice, received her as his bride, and the 
" nuptials were solemnized with great magnificence. ,, 

Edward. Then the prophecy is, " She shall not 
retain the power of the arm," " but shall be given 
up ; " and the history states, that her father dying, 
she was given up, and Laodice recalled ; but Lao- 
dice fearing she might again lose her place, caused 
the death both of Berenice and her husband, and 
their child. 

Susie. Rollin's reflections on the fulfillment of 
these prophecies are very striking. He speaks of 
the " Divinity so visible in the Scripture." What a 
chain of events from the prophecy to the fulfill- 
ment ! " By the breaking of one single link, the 
whole would be disconnected." "With respect to 
the marriage alone ; what hand but the Almighty, 
could have conducted so many different views, in- 
trigues, and passions to the same point." 

Jennie. But " out of a branch of her roots," 



CONVERSATION XL1V. 447 

one should stand forth to avenge her cause. This 
was her brother Ptolemy Evergetes, who had suc- 
ceeded his father. With a great army he invaded 
the dominions of Seleucus Callinicus, seized his 
strongholds, and carried captive many of his people, 
princes as well as others, with much silver and 
gold, a large number of images, gods of Egypt cap- 
tured by Cambyses. For this he received the title 
of Evergetes, or the Benefactor. He lived several 
years longer than Seleucus. Thus the prophecy in 
verses seventh and eighth was exactly fulfilled. 

Edward, But the sons of Seleucus Callinicus, 
according to the prophecy, were stirred up for the 
recovery of the lost possessions. Seleucus Cerau- 
nus and Antiochus the Great were the sons ; but 
the angel says : " One shall certainly come, and 
overflow and pass through." This is also the exact 
fact, for Seleucus Ceraunus was poisoned, and An- 
tiochus alone, led this " multitude of .great forces " 
against the king of the South. Ptolemy Philopater 
had succeeded Ptolemy Evergetes, and Antiochus 
overran his possessions in Asia, so that desolation 
like a flood spread over these fair provinces. For 
a little season there was a truce ; then Antiochus 
renewed the war with great violence, but the king 
of the South " moved with choler," or rage came 
against him with a multitude. The issue of the 
battle was as the angel declared, a great victory to 
• the king of the South, and the king of the North 
retreated before him. 



448 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. Now, see again the exact fulfillment of 
the prophecy. This victory was of no advantage 
to the king of the South ; as the angel declares he 
was "not strengthened by it," for he gave himself 
up to scenes of debauchery, and with vain glory 
visited the possessions in Asia which were his pride, 
and among others, Jerusalem. Here he was de- 
termined to enter the Holy of Holies, but this was 
so abominable to the Jews, that they resisted him 
with great violence. Upon this, in his rage he des- 
troyed as the angel says, " many ten thousands," 
while the History says, sixty thousand. 

Susie. These prophecies seem like a narrative of 
past events, instead of predictions of the future. 

Mrs. S. This king of the South is Ptolemy 
Philopater, that from History we learn attempted to 
enter the Holy of Holies ; in his rage destroying 
thousands, and, although victorious, in no respect 
strengthened-by his victory. The next prediction 
given by the divine messenger is, that " the king of 
the North shall return, and shall set forth a multi- 
tude greater than the former, and shall certainly 
come after certain years with a great army and 
much riches." According to the History this in- 
vasion of Egypt by Antiochus the Great, this king 
of the North, was fourteen years after the victory of 
Ptolemy Philopater, who had been succeeded by 
Ptolemy Epiphanes, a boy of five years. Antiochus 
took the advantage of this state of things, and so 
did others ; for as the angel says : " Many stand up 
against the king of the South." 



CONVERSATION XLIV. 449 

Susie. He also says, " The robbers of thy peo- 
ple shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, but 
they shall fall." I do not understand this, but it 
must be something relating to the people of God. 

Mrs. S. The word translated robbers, means 
also revolters. The Jews many of them did revolt 
from Ptolemy, and took part with Antiochus, but 
Scopas, a general of Ptolemy subdued this revolt. 

Edward. Philip, king of Macedon, joined with 
Antiochus, and the strongholds or fenced cities of 
the king of the South were taken by them, for he 
could not withstand their power ; even what Scopas 
had recovered was re-taken by Antiochus ; thus as 
was predicted he had possession of the glorious land. 

Jennie. Yes, the prophecy is, that " he shall do 
according to his will, and none shall stand before 
him ; and he shall stand in the glorious land, which 
by him shall be consumed." According to History 
he did get possession of this land, but it was no 
benefit to the people. 

Susie. Then comes a remarkable prophecy : " He 
shall also set his face to enter with the strength of 
his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him ; thus 
shall he do, and he shall give him the daughter of 
woman, corrupting her, but she shall not stand on 
his side, neither be for him." 

Mrs. S. It is remarkable, because it was so ex- 
actly fulfilled in the course pursued by Antiochus. 
He attempted to get the entire possession of Egypt ; 
the Jews — here called upright ones — aiding him. 

2 9 



450 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

He also tried to deceive Ptolemy, professing to 
make an agreement with him by giving his daughter 
Cleopatra to him in marriage, but instructing her to 
betray her husband. This, however, she would not 
do, but united with her husband in soliciting the aid 
of the Romans against her father. 

Edward. If I were reciting history and were 
asked : What did Antiochus do next ? I should 
answer : He carried his arms into Europe, and pro- 
voked the vengeance of Rome, by attacking islands 
and cities in alliance with her ; so that an army was 
sent against him, and in battle with the Romans, he 
was defeated at Magnesia. 

Jennie. And turning to the prophecy we find it 
declared, that " he shall turn his face to the isles, 
and shall take many ; but a prince for his own be- 
half shall cause the reproach offered by him to 
cease ; " and also, that " he shall turn his face to- 
ward the fort of his own land. 

Edward. And from History we also learn that 
the Romans only permitted him to return, on con- 
dition of his promise to pay all the expense of the 
war. with an annual tribute of a thousand talents. 

Susie. The next prediction is, that " he shall 
stumble and fall, and shall not be found ; " and 
from History we learn, that in attempting to pro- 
cure money for the payment of his tribute, by rob- 
bing the temple of Jupiter Belus at Elymais, he was 
murdered. This was the end of Antiochus the 
Great. 



CONVERSATION XLIV. 45 1 

Edward. The prediction of his successor, Se- 
leucus Philopater, is in few words, but an exact 
description of the man and of his reign. " Then 
shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the 
glory of his kingdom." This was all that could be 
said of him. The payment of the tribute exhausted 
all his resources. His reign was not long — ten 
years —called a few days. He was "destroyed 
neither in anger nor in battle." Heliodorus, who 
had been employed by him to plunder the temple 
at Jerusalem, intending to seize the throne, caused 
him to be murdered. 

Mrs. S. Now we come to Antiochus Epiphanes 
whom the divine messenger, who is making known 
to Daniel what shall befall his people in the future 
time, denominates a vile person, who shall obtain 
the kingdom by flatteries. Antiochus, the brother 
of the late king, was not the heir, as Seleucus had a 
son ; but in his absence, Antiochus by mingling 
with the common people and flattering them, got 
their favor, and being at first successful in war, the 
opposition to him was subdued. But he was no- 
torious for his vices, and the epithet vile justly des- 
cribes his character. The prince of the covenant, 
is first mentioned as suffering by him. This was 
the Jewish high priest, Onias, from whom he took the 
priesthood, causing him to be put to death, and 
selling the office to his brother Jason ; then taking 
it from him, he sold it again. Deceit was his most 
prominent trait, acted out at all times, and on all 
occasions. 



452 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Jennie. He made a league with the king of 
Egypt, Ptolemy Philometer, but it was only to break 
it ; he entered peaceably into his possessions, and 
rich provinces ; seizing the spoil, and scattering it 
among others. 

Mrs. S. Thus doing as the angel declares "that 
which his fathers have not done, nor his father's 
fathers." He also invaded Egypt, defeated Ptolemy, 
and by his craft in " scattering prey and spoil and 
riches " among the people, they were stirred up to 
revolt against their king, and his brother Ptolemy 
Physcon was set up against him. By some means 
Ptolemy Philometer fell into the hand of Antiochus ; 
and for a time they were together, " speaking lies " — 
as the prophecy declares — "at the same table." 

Edward. How remarkable these prophecies ; 
predicting what it would seem no one ever would 
do, and yet fulfilled to the very letter. Who can 
believe, that short-sighted man could foresee all 
these actions, so improbable to be performed by any 
reasonable being. 

Mrs. S. The prophecy is indeed an exact his- 
tory of this " vile person." He next returns to his 
own land ; and that "his heart shall be against the 
holy covenant, and he shall do exploits," is the 
divine declaration. From history we learn what 
these exploits were, and Edward will please give an 
account of them. 

Edward. By some means he heard that a report 
of his death had caused great rejoicing among the 



CONVERSATION XLIV. 453 

Jews. He therefore entered the city with ven- 
geance, put forty thousand to death, and sold as 
many thousand for slaves. He polluted the temple 
by offering swine's flesh upon the altar, entered the 
Holy of Holies, and carried off an abundance of 
gold and silver. 

Susie. The next thing related is : " At the time 
appointed he shall return and come toward the 
South, but it shall not be as the former ; " " for the 
ships of Chittim shall come against him ; therefore 
he shall be grieved and return." Does Chittim mean 
Rome ? 

Mrs. S. Chittim is a name given to Greece, but 
all the countries on the Mediterranean and Archi- 
pelago were now under Rome. Ptolemy had ap- 
plied to Rome for aid ; a fleet was in readiness to 
furnish it, and ambassadors had been sent to treat 
with Ptolemy. Antiochus advancing with his army 
to besiege Alexandria, was met by one of these am- 
bassadors — Popilius — who desired to know whether 
he would leave Egypt, or continue the war. An- 
tiochus replying that he must have time to decide ; 
Popilius drew a circle in the sand around him, tell- 
ing him that he could not stir from that spot, until 
he promised to withdraw his troops from Egypt. 

Susie. This accounts for his being grieved, as he 
had to give up, or call down upon himself the whole 
power of Rome. 

Jennie. And his vile character shows itself in 
the course which he pursued ; for enraged at being 



454 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

compelled to leave Egypt, he revenged himself upon 
the poor Jews. The prophet says : " He shall have 
indignation against the holy covenant ;" and " have 
intelligence with them that forsake the holy cove- 
nant." 

Edward. And just to think — with no reason but 
to vent his spite — he sends his army against the 
holy city ; buildings and walls are thrown down ; 
inhabitants murdered, and troops stationed so as to 
prevent an approach to the temple. Then a statue 
of Jupiter is set up in the temple, and the people 
required to worship this idol, instead of the true 
God ; those refusing to do this being put to death. 

Mrs. S. Some there were who stood firm for 
God, but many took sides with the wicked king. 
Jennie, you may read the prediction of these fear- 
ful events. 

Jennie, [reads.] " And arms shall stand on his 
part ; and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength 
and shall take away the daily sacrifice ; and they 
shall place the abomination that maketh desolate ; 
and such as do wickedly against the truth shall he 
corrupt by flatteries." So far we have certainly 
found the fulfillment. Then in the words of the 
angel ; "the people that do know their God shall 
be strong, and do exploits ; " " yet they shall fall by 
sword and by flame." Very different exploits these 
were from those of Antiochus. I have read the 
account given in Maccabees and realize the truth 
of this ; for this is the time of Mattathias and his 






CONVERSATION XLIV. 455 

sons, also of old Eleazer, and of the mother and 
her seven sons, each of them suffering a cruel death 
before her eyes, and then she was put to death ; 
and this because they would not disobey the law 
of God. 

Mrs. S. Then is said : " They shall be holpen 
with a little help." This was fulfilled in Judas 
Maccabeus, a son of Mattathias, a man of great 
faith, and powerful in arms. His father and his 
brothers were united with him, and with a small 
force, their success was wonderful. At length in 
the absence of the king, Judas Maccabeus gained a 
great victory over Lysias, his general, and proceeded 
to cleanse the temple, and re-establish the worship 
of God. Antiochus hearing of this, full of rage, set 
his face toward Jerusalem, resolved upon the des- 
truction of the city, and of the whole Jewish nation, 
but the hand of God was upon him, and like Herod 
"he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost." 
Thus the pious Jews were delivered from this fiend 
in human shape. Antiochus died in the East, from 
whence as the prophet says, tidings should come 
that "trouble him." Tacitus says, it was a revolt 
of the Parthians. No course of events for such a 
length of time, and with such a particular descrip- 
tion, was ever the subject of prophecy ; and the 
evidence of the fulfillment from History is so com- 
plete, that Porphyry, an infidel author of the third 
century, declared that it must have been written by 
a person living at the time, or soon after. But the 



456 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

evidence of Daniel's being the author, and that he 
lived during the captivity, is beyond all dispute. 
We have the testimony of a whole people, the Jews ; 
who are as great enemies to the Christian faith, as 
Porphyry himself. 



CONVERSATION XLV. 



CHANGE OF TIME IN EVENTS PREDICTED OPPRES- 
SION OF ROME KINGS OF SOUTH AND NORTH 

THE SARACENS AND TURKS PROPHECY 

FULFILLED IN ARABS PROPHECIES IN 

REVELATIONS EXPLAINED IN- 
FLUENCE AND EXTENT OF 
MOHAMMEDANISM. 

TTRS. SELWYN. Thus far the prophecy seems 
" \ plainly fulfilled in the contests between the 
kings of the North and the South, or the Seleucidae 
and the Ptolemies. But with the triumph of Judas 
Maccabeus, Antiochus came to a miserable end, and 
this contest does not continue. The Divine Mes- 
senger may now refer to other oppressive powers, 
for instance the Romans ; but in verse fortieth, I 
am sure he passes over from Antiochus and other 
oppressors, to the period spoken of in chap. 8 : 23, 
"when transgressors are come to the full." This 
must have been after Christ had been rejected and 
put to a shameful death. 

Edward. He calls it here the " time of the end," 
and speaks of a " king of the South " that should 
"push at him." May not this king of the South 



45$ LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

be the same as the " king of fierce countenance, 
and understanding dark sentences ?" 

Mrs. S. I think the same, and that in both 
places ; Mahomet is predicted and the Saracen in- 
vasion ; when Jerusalem and the land of God's 
chosen people fell under the Mohammedan power — 
the little horn of the third beast. 

Edward. This was in the seventh century A. D., 
and Jerusalem had been under Rome from the 
time of its being taken by Pompey, 63 B. C. 

Susie. A. D. 70 it was destroyed by Titus, and 
a million of people perished ; then in the second 
century Adrian again took Jerusalem, destroying 
half a million, and banishing the remainder, for- 
bidding their return to the city. 

Jennie. He also built a temple to Jupiter Capi- 
tolinus on Mt. Moriah, the very place where the 
temple had stood ; thus setting up " the abomination 
of desolation in the most holy place." 

Edward. But in the conquest by the Saracens, 
this temple was destroyed, and the Mosque of Omar 
erected in its place ; and there it stands to this day. 

Susie. Thus "the abomination of desolation" 
still stands in the most holy place. 

Jennie. A king of the North is also predicted 
as coming like a whirlwind. Who can be meant by 
this king of the North ? 

Mrs. S. This is the invasion of the Turks. 
The manner in which they came down upon 
western Asia, is here described to the very life. 



CONVERSATION XLV. 459 

Edward. We have before spoken of the Turks. 
They " knelt to the prophet, while they overthrew 
the king," so that their kingdom is a continuation 
of Mohammedan rule ; the power especially de- 
noted by the little horn of the third beast. 

Susie. Were all the Saracen dominions con- 
quered by the Turks ? 

Edward. No. Arabia was not conquered, nor 
Moab, Ammon, nor Edom. I think no one but 
Arabs could be found there. To this day the 
government of Turkey pay forty thousand crowns 
for the right of making pilgrimages to the tomb of 
Mahomet at Mecca. Here we find a fulfillment of 
prophecy ; the hand of these Arabs is against every 
man, even though of the same religion. 

Mrs. S. The Arabs are without question the 
descendants of Ishmael. You recollect that God 
gave the promise to Abraham and to Hagar, that 
Ishmael should be the father of a great nation ; 
that it "shall not be numbered for multitude." All 
the Arabians, however, may not be descendants of 
Ishmael, as some of Abraham's sons by Keturah 
settled there. 

Edward. But those called Bedouin Arabs are 
no doubt his descendants, and they are the greatest 
robbers in the world. 

Jennie. They do not stay in their desert home, 
but live all over, where people do not want them. 
It was prophesied of Ishmael that he should " dwell 
in the presence of his brethren ; " and I am sure 
he does. 



460 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Susie. And I do not see how they can be num- 
bered, for they do not stay long enough in a place 
to be counted, and then away to their desert home, 
where they cannot be found. But there seems no 
end to them. 

Edward. And they have never been conquered. 
All the four great monarchies attempted it, but 
without success ; and in later times the Turks ; but 
they gave it up, thinking, I presume, that it would 
cost more than it would come to. These wily 
Arabs can defy any army, however large ; for on 
their fleet horses they can escape into the desert, 
and there kick up such a dust that no mortal but 
themselves could live there. 

Mrs. S. That they are a wild people is self- 
evident, and also that they have the same manners 
and customs that they had three thousand years ago. 
Gibbon says of them, nearly in the language of the 
Bible : " They are armed against every man." 

Edward. The Saracens had Spain, but the 
Turks did not get this country, though they took 
Constantinople, and the territory as far west as the 
Adriatic — Turkey in Europe. 

Mrs. S. Here in connection with Daniel's 
prophecy, I think it would be well to look at the 
revelation given to St. John, of both the Saracens 
and the Turks. Rev. 9 : 1-11 is a prediction of 
the Saracens. Susie may read it. 

Susie, (reads.) "And the fifth angel sounded ; and 
I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth ; and 



CONVERSATION XLV. 461 

to him was given the key of the bottomless pit ; 
and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the 
smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air 
were darkened by the smoke of the pit. And there 
came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth ; and 
to them was given power, as the scorpions of the 
earth have power. And it was commanded them 
that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, 
neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only 
those men which have not the seal of God in their 
foreheads. And to them it was given that they 
should not kill them, but that they should be tor- 
mented five months ; and their torment was as the 
torment of the scorpion when he striketh a man. And 
in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find 
it ; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from 
them. And the shapes of the locusts were like 
unto horses prepared for the battle ; and on their 
heads were as it were crowns of gold, and their 
faces were as it were faces of men. And they had 
hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as 
it were teeth of lions. And they had breast-plates 
as it were breast-plates of iron ; and the sound of 
their wings was as the sound of chariots, of many 
horses running to battle. And they had tails like 
unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails ; 
and their power was to hurt men five months. And 
they had a king over them, which is the angel of 
the bottomless pit, whose J name in the Hebrew 
tongue is Abaddon " — the destroyer — " but in the 
Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon." 



462 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. The star that falls from heaven to the 
earth, represents Mahomet ; the smoke that issues 
from the pit, is an emblem of this Satanic delusion ; 
the swarms of locusts, the hosts of men that by the 
sword propagate this delusion. But not as locusts 
do they destroy everything green ; and.it is remark- 
able that the command given to these invading 
armies was this : " Destroy no palm trees, nor burn 
any fields of corn ; cut down no fruit trees, nor do 
any mischief to cattle, only such as you kill to 
eat." * Their commission they declared was against 
men, but only those who had not the seal of God 
in their foreheads ; as Mahomet, you recollect, said 
he was sent to destroy those who had rejected 
Moses and Jesus Christ. This, however, included 
image worshipers in the church, as well as pagans, 
for idolatry was the sin especially condemned by 
Mahomet. 

Edward. Five months, or one hundred and 
fifty days — a day for a year — was to be the dura- 
tion of their conquests, and Bishop Newton says : 
" Their power of hunting and tormenting men was 
ex-erted chiefly within that period." f 

Mrs. S. Hair like women and a crown of gold, 
is thought to describe the Arabs, as they wore long 
hair with turbans of a bright color. The torment 
like that of scorpions is emblematical of their 
cruelty, as well as of the deadly poison infused 
into the soul by their system of religion. 

* Newton on the Prophecies, p. 482. 
Newton on the Prophecies, p. 487. 



CONVERSATION XLV. 463 

Edward. Western Asia, Northern Africa, Spain, 
Portugal, and the Islands of the Mediterranean, all 
fell under this dominion. 

Mrs. S. Now, Jennie, you will please read the 
prophecy of the Turks — Rev. 9 : 13-19. 

Jennie, (reads.) " And the sixth angel sounded, 
and I heard a voice from the four horns of the 
golden altar which is before God, saying to the 
sixth angel which had the trumpet : ' Loose the 
four angels which are bound in the great river 
Euphrates.' And the four angels were loosed, 
which were prepared for an hour and a day, a 
month and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 
And the number of the army of the horsemen 
were two hundred thousand thousand ; and I heard 
the number of them. And thus I saw the horses 
in the vision, and them that sat on them, having 
breast-plates of fire, and of jacinth, and of brim- 
stone ; and the heads of the horses were as the 
heads of lions ; and out of their mouths issued fire 
and smoke and brimstone. By these there was the 
third part of men killed, by the fire and the smoke 
and the brimstone which issued out of their mouths. 
For their power is in their mouth and in their tails ; 
for their tails were like unto serpents, and had 
heads, and with them they do hurt." 

Edward. What is meant by loosing the four 
angels which were bound in the Euphrates ? 

Mrs. S. The four angels denote the ruling 
powers of the four sultanies or kingdoms, estab- 



464 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

lished by the Turks in the vicinity of this river. 
From this region, this warlike people had come 
down upon the Saracen dominions, and Jerusalem 
had fallen under their power. This was A. D. 1065. 

Jennie. And I know this caused the wars of the 
Crusades ; for the pilgrims to the holy city suffered 
so much from the Turks, that the nations of 
Europe thought it their duty to unite in sending 
armies to drive away these infidels. 

Mrs. S. Yes, Jennie, you are right, and thus 
they were restrained, or in the language of prophecy, 
were " bound in the great river Euphrates." For 
two hundred years this had been the case, but now 
the angel with the sixth trumpet is bidden to sound, 
and to loose those desolating powers, that they may 
execute the judgment of God upon the nations for 
their sins. 

Susie. The period they should be engaged in 
this bloody work, is singularly expressed — "an 
hour and a day, and a month and a year." 

Edward. I have been counting it up, and it 
makes three hundred and ninety-one years and 
fifteen days — reckoning a day for a year. Is there 
any way to tell how long they were engaged in 
these wars ? 

Mrs. S. The information we get from history is 
very definite. The first victory gained by the 
Turks over the Greeks was 1281, and the last, 
1672.* 

* Newton on the Prophecies, p. 490. 



CONVERSATION XLV. 465 

Edward. Just three hundred and ninety-one 
years, and this is exact enough without the days. 
The third part of men I suppose denotes the Greek 
empire. 

Mrs. S. Yes ; and the number in the armies, 
and of those killed, merely indicates a large 
number. 

Edward. Their horses' heads being like lions ; 
and fire, smoke, and brimstone issuing from their 
mouths, represent the fury of their attacks, and 
also the use of gunpowder — not long before this 
invented. In 1453, at the taking of Constantinople, 
their success was mainly due to the use of gun- 
powder ; one cannon having been said to hurl a 
stone weighing three hundred pounds, and to have 
been drawn by seventy yoke of oxen and two 
thousand men.* The aid derived from the moon 
on a dark night, led to the adoption of the crescent 
as their national emblem. 

Mrs. S. Then as the locusts had tails like scor- 
pions, with stings, so the tails of the horses are ser- 
pents, with heads and stings, infusing the same 
deadly poison into the soul ; thus blinding men to 
the light of the Sun of Righteousness, and holding 
them down in bondage to the prince of darkness ; 
in which deplorable condition, millions to this day 
still remain — one hundred and fifty millions. 

Edward. I have been greatly interested in read- 
ing Dr. Field's account of Mohammedanism. The 

* Newton on the Prophecies, p. 492. 
30 



466 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

worship of one God is a marked feature of this 
religion ; but the character of the God of the 
Koran — how unlike that of the Divine Being re- 
vealed in the Bible. The God of the Mohamme- 
dans is infinite in power, but cold and distant — no 
love. Our Father in heaven is to them unknown. 

Mrs. S. The system, at its heart, is cold, hard 
and cruel ; no Saviour, no redemption from sin ; 
the way of salvation is conformity to the rules laid 
down by the prophet — external observances. By 
these performances, they consider themselves enti- 
tled to the favor of God above all others ; although 
at the same time the vilest passions may reign in the 
heart, and deeds of cruelty and corruption are the 
habit of their lives. 

Susie. There is no golden rule in the Koran ; 
on the contrary, its rule is, " No mercy to unbe- 
lievers." 

Jennie. The heaven of Mohammed is one of 
sensual enjoyment ; but even this heaven is not for 
woman. 

Mrs. S. The degradation of woman is one of 
the darkest features of Mohammedanism. Her 
condition is one of utter hopelessness for time and 
for eternity. While there are some truths in the 
system of the false prophet, and some good require- 
ments, yet it brings the soul into midnight darkness, 
and leaves it there. It is a system of fatalism, 
blotting out human accountability, and all hope of 
Divine aid. Christian missions have done little 



CONVERSATION XLV. 467 

toward the enlightening of Mohammedans, for 
they have refused to hear the gospel. 

Edward. But there seems now much hope for 
this dark-minded people ; and in some parts of the 
mission field, especially in Persia, many have em- 
braced the Saviour, and there is great interest in 
listening to the gospel and in reading the word of 
God. The translation of the Bible into the 
Arabic — the language of the Koran — which all 
Musselmen know, gives great hope that this people 
will find the truth therein revealed, and will thus 
be led to enter the fold of Christ. I long for the 
day to come, when I can proclaim to them the 
gospel news of salvation. 

Mrs. S. In regard to the termination of this 
delusion, or of the power of this little horn of the 
third beast, we may, I think, infer from prophecy, 
that it will be at the same time as that of the little 
horn of the fourth beast. They both had a begin- 
ning in the same period, and when the twelve 
hundred and sixty years are completed, they will 
both be brought to judgment. When this will be? 
is not to us revealed ; but as Antiochus came to his 
end with no one to help him, so are we sure it will 
be with these anti-Christian powers — these strong- 
holds of Satan. 



CONVERSATION XLVI. 



THE TWO PROPHETS THAT RETURN FROM CAPTIV- 
ITY ZECHARIAH's VISIONS FULFILLMENT OF 

PROMISE IN DELIVERANCE FROM ALEXAN- 
DER PROPHECIES OF CHRIST AND 

THEIR FULFILLMENT. 

"T"TRS. SELWYN. Haggai and Zechariah were 
* I prophets that returned to Jerusalem with the 
first company of captives under Zerubbabel. We 
have spoken of Haggai's prophecy, and this even- 
ing will consider that of Zechariah. 

Edward. The message of Haggai was given to 
awaken the people to the obligation to go on with 
the building of the temple, of which only the 
foundations were laid ; but now, when Zechariah 
addresses them, I think they were at work. He 
reminds them of the sins of their fathers, for which 
God had visited them in judgment ; he also warns 
them to turn from their evil doings, assuring them 
of His promise : " I will turn unto you." 

Susie. God made known his purposes to Zecha- 
riah by visions. In the first six chapters, there are 
eight visions described. 



CONVERSATION XLVI. 469 

Mrs. S. They are also so explained that we can 
see their beauty and force. 

Jennie. In the first vision, the prophet saw a 
man on a red horse ; and behind him, horses — red 
speckled and white. 

Mrs. S. This man, called " the Angel of the 
Lord," is Christ ; those on the other horses, minis- 
tering angels. The color of the horses is signifi- 
cant : red, of vengeance ; white, of mercy ; 
speckled, a blending of the two. The divine 
Mediator pleads for his people, and receives for 
Jerusalem an answer of peace, also of judgment 
upon her adversaries. The house of the Lord 
shall be built ; " the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, 
and shall yet choose Jerusalem." 

Edward. He next sees four horns, emblems of 
power, and these represent the oppressors of Israel ; 
then four carpenters, those whom God will employ 
in building up his kingdom. Dr. Lowth says : " No 
enemy's horn is so strong but God has a hammer to 
break it in pieces." 

Jennie. The next vision is a man with a measur-. 
ing line, who comes to measure Jerusalem. Is the 
man who talks with the prophet the Messiah ? 

Mrs. S. I think so, for he speaks with a voice 
of command to the other angels, and declares : "I, 
saith the Lord, will be a wall of fire round about, 
and will be the glory in the midst of her." And he 
gives this direction : " Sing and rejoice, O daughter 
of Zion ; for lo I come, and will dwell in the midst 



470 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

of the earth, saith the Lord." Here is truly an 
express prediction of the coming of Christ to dwell 
with his people. Zechariah is called the " Sun of 
the minor Prophets," because he brings Christ so 
clearly into view. 

Susie. The next vision is Joshua, clothed in 
filthy garments, standing before the Angel of the 
Lord, and " Satan at his right hand to resist him." 
The Lord rebukes Satan, and declares Joshua "a 
brand plucked out of the fire." Does this mean 
that he is delivered from the wrath of God ? 

Mrs. S. It means, I think, his deliverance from 
bondage in Babylon. His filthy garments are an 
emblem of his remissness in performing the work 
of God ; his change of garments, and the mitre 
placed upon his head, give evidence of a full par- 
don, and the acceptance of his service in perform- 
ing the duties of his sacred office. An assurance 
is given both to Zerubbabel and to Joshua, that, 
though their way seems now so dark, the promised 
Messiah will come, — " my Servant, the Branch " — 
the precious corner stone — light and strength to 
his people. 

Jennie. The prophet went to sleep before the 
next vision ; but he was awakened by the angel. 
This shows that these communications were not 
dreams. 

Edward. In the next vision, the prophet sees a 
candlestick, like that in the temple, with seven 
branches and seven lamps — three on each side and 
one in the centre ; also two olive trees, one on the 



CONVERSATION XLVI. 47 I 

right and the other on the left, and from a branch 
of each of them golden pipes, distilling the 
oil into the bowls by which the lamps are fed, — 
seven pipes to the seven lamps. The prophet then 
enquires: "What are these, my Lord?" The 
reply of the angel is : " Not by might, nor by 
power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." 
" Who art thou, O great mountain ; before Zerub- 
babel thou shalt become a plain ; and he shall 
bring forth the headstone thereof, with shoutings, 
crying grace, grace unto it." 

Mrs. S. The angel then explains that " the two 
olive trees are the two anointed ones that stand by 
the Lord of the whole earth." These anointed 
ones are Zerubbabel and Joshua, types of Christ in 
his two offices of King and Priest. You perceive 
how aptly the oil denotes the influence of the Holy 
Spirit ; and that these two anointed ones are 
instruments in diffusing His light. So with every 
Christian ; his light will shine if he has the spirit 
of Christ. The candlestick with its lamps, repre- 
sents the leading offices of the Jewish nation, both 
civil and religious ; but without the oil — how use- 
less. Light must be within, from the influence of 
the Holy Ghost, for the guidance of both Church 
and State. 

Susie. The next vision is a flying roll, and the 
angel says : " It is the curse that goeth forth on the 
face of the whole earth." It seems designed to 
show that all sin, even though it be hidden, is under 
the curse of God, and will receive punishment. 



472 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

Mrs. S. The thief and false swearer are given 
as representations of every kind of transgression. 
In the next vision, the ephah indicates the danger 
of filling up the measure of iniquity so that there 
is no hope for the transgressor ; its being closed up 
showing the measure to be full. Thus, by the 
rejection of Christ, this became the fearful condi- 
tion of God's covenant people. The ephah being 
borne between the heavens and the earth, repre- 
sents the judgments that should come upon them, 
in being scattered through all nations. 

Jennie. The last vision was of four chariots, 
coming from between two mountains of brass ; the 
horses red, black, white, and in the fourth, grisled 
and bay. 

Mrs. S. Angels are represented by chariots ; 
and by the color of the horses we perceive them to 
be ministers of vengeance as well as of mercy — red 
denoting war ; black, famine or pestilence ; white, 
triumph or peace ; grisled and bay, a mingled 
influence. 

Susie. The subject of fasting is next explained 
by the prophet ; and he tells the people that a 
heartless performance of duty is a sin against God. 
I do not think the duty of fasting is understood 
by some people. 

Jennie. The people were now so happy in their 
work, that I think they did not feel like fasting, 
and so they asked the prophet whether they ought 
to fast, and it seems to me that he thought not. 



CONVERSATION XLVI. 473 

Edward. And then Zechariah gave them the 
promise of a time of such abundant blessings, that 
their fast days should be turned into feast days ; 
and that they should not only be prosperous them- 
selves, but a blessing to other nations. 

Jennie. The promise is, that many people and 
strong nations should come to seek the Lord in 
Jerusalem, "ten men taking hold of the skirt of 
one Jew;" ten times as many Gentiles as Jews, I 
should think. 

Mrs. S. This was fulfilled when so many thou- 
sands on the day of Pentecost believed in Christ, 
and went everywhere preaching the gospel. Christ 
explained to his disciples that, on such joyful 
occasions, they could not fast. 

Edward. There is a promise, in Chap. 9 : 8, that 
was wonderfully fulfilled. It follows the predictions 
concerning Tyre and the cities of the Philistines, 
that fell under the power of Alexander. This 
promise is : " I will encamp about my house, be- 
cause of the army ; no oppressor shall pass 
through." I will describe the fulfillment. Alexan- 
der, while besieging Tyre, sent a summons to 
Jerusalem to surrender to him. The answer 
returned was, that they could not submit to him, 
as they had given their oath of allegiance to the 
king of Persia. Enraged at this reply, as soon as 
he had triumphed over Tyre, the conqueror 
marched against Jerusalem. In this hour of peril, 
Jaddus, the high priest, collected the people 



474 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

together to unite in imploring God for their deliv- 
erance. Under divine guidance, as I believe, he 
then directed the gates to be opened, and flowers 
strewed through the city ; then that a procession 
be formed — himself leading it, clothed in his sacer- 
dotal robes, the other priests clothed in their sacred 
vestments, and the men of the city in white. Thus 
they marched to meet the army. It looked as 
though they might all be cut in pieces, but, wonder- 
ful to relate, as this defenseless band drew near to 
this conquering host, not a weapon was raised 
against them ; while, to the astonishment of every 
beholder, Alexander himself fell prostrate before 
the high priest. 

Jennie. Parmenio, his general, in amazement 
asks the king how he, adored by every one, could 
adore this Jew. 

Edward. And a wonderful answer was that of 
Alexander : I do not adore this high priest but the 
God whose minister he is, and whose name is 
inscribed upon his forehead ; for while I was " at 
Dio in Macedonia, this same man, in these same 
robes, appeared to me in a dream ; exhorted me to 
banish every fear, bade me cross the Hellespont 
boldly, and assured me that his God would march 
at the head of my army, and give me the victory 
over the Persians." 

Mrs. S. Whether he had the dream or not, it 
was God that protected his people, not permitting 
this mighty conqueror to do them harm ; and not 



CONVERSATION XLVI. 475 

only this, but leading him to give the assurance, 
that whatever favor they might ask should be 
bestowed upon them. 

Edward. And the request made by this high 
priest, showed him to be a man of God. It was 
this : that they might be permitted to live accord- 
ing to the laws that God had given them ; and 
therefore not required to pay tribute on the seventh 
year, because on that year they were commanded 
not to sow nor reap. Alexander promised to grant 
all that they had asked, and even that the Jews 
remaining in Babylon should receive the same 
favor. 

Susie. He marched with them into Jerusalem, 
and joined in their worship, embracing the high 
priest and speaking kindly to the people. 

Jennie. Jaddus showed him the prophecies of 
Daniel respecting himself, so that he was encour- 
aged to go on with his conquests. 

Mrs. S. Here is indeed a wonderful fulfillment 
of prophecy ; and you can see how much light 
History throws upon prophecy, and how important 
to connect these studies. In view of this divine 
promise, and the care of God for his people, the 
prophet beholds the coming Messiah ; and in holy 
triumph proclaims the joyful tidings: " Rejoice 
greatly, O daughter of Zion ; shout, O daughter of 
Jerusalem ; behold thy king cometh unto thee ; he 
is just, and having salvation ; lowly, and riding 
upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.'' 



476 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

The fulfillment of this prophecy is related by each 
of the Evangelists. The Jews must have believed 
it a prediction of the Messiah, as on this occasion, 
with loud hosannas, they hailed Him the Son of 
David. Many, I dare say, thought He would imme- 
diately ascend the throne ; but as He assumed no 
royal power, it may be that these same persons, six 
days after, joined in the cry : " Crucify him, cru- 
cify him." 

Edward. A promise of triumph to him — the King 
of kings — follows this proclamation of the prophet : 
" His dominion shall be even from sea to sea, and 
from the river to the ends of the earth ; " a promise 
which is now being rapidly fulfilled, and which will 
surely be accomplished. 

Susie. This triumph was not to be by war, for 
" He shall speak peace to the heathen." 

Edward. In this chapter and the next, promises 
of blessings to those who fear God are given ; but 
in the eleventh chapter there is a change. Here, I 
think, there' is a prophecy of the destruction of the 
temple and of Jerusalem, and also of the breaking 
of the covenant with Israel and Judah. 

Mrs. S. The procuring cause of these judg- 
ments is also brought into view ; the rejection of 
the Good Shepherd, and with this, the price at 
which he was valued — the " thirty pieces of silver," 
"cast to the potter, in the house of the Lord" — 
all having their fulfillment in the treatment of 
Christ by the " idol shepherds." — the Jewish San- 
hedrim. 



CONVERSATION XLVI. 477 

Jennie. And the woe pronounced — how soon it 
came upon them. 

Edward. The day of the Lord spoken of in 
Chap. 14, means, I suppose, the destruction of 
Jerusalem. All nations came against her ; for as 
Rome was mistress of the world, all nations were 
in her armies. 

Jennie. But then it says : " The Lord shall go 
forth and fight against the nations." Had they 
done wrong in destroying Jerusalem ? 

Mrs. S. You forget, Jennie, the lesson so often 
taught : that God visits in judgment those who, 
though doing his work, yet do it from wrong 
motives, — to please themselves, or to oppress his 
people. Like as it was with Babylon, so with 
Rome and the nations in league with her, — God 
sent upon them the hand of the destroyer. 

Edward. So far, I understand ; but the predic- 
tion concerning the Mount of Olives — what can it 
mean ?* 

Mrs. S. The completion of the work of redemp- 
tion by the death and resurrection of Christ, was 
infinite in its results ; and the establishment of a 
new dispensation between God and man, brought 
forth a change, that by human language could not 
be described. A great convulsion in the kingdom 
of nature was therefore employed, to give some 
idea of this mighty transformation. We might 
search still further into the mysteries of this proph- 

*Zech. 14: 4. 



478 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ecy, but we will close with the divine promise : u I 
will pour upon the house of David and the inhabit- 
ants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplica- 
tion ; and they shall look upon me whom they have 
pierced, and they shall mourn." The prophets all 
unite in the divine assurance that a remnant shall 
be saved. 



CONVERSATION XLVII. 



THE PERIOD OF MALACHI. HIS OFFICE. THE LAST 

PROPHET. SINS OF THE CHURCH. OBLIGA- 
TION OF GIVING TO GOD. — BELIEVING REM- 
NANT. THE MESSENGER OF THE COVE- 
NANT. THE FORERUNNER. 

JESUS NOT RECEIVED. PEN- 
ALTY. THE PROCLAMA- 
TION. JESUS COMES. 

CLOSING ADVICE. 

CTUSIE. We have come now to the very last 
'X book of the Old Testament. 

Jennie. Is it known just the time that Malachi 
wrote this prophecy ? 

Edward. There is no date to the book, but it is 
quite certain that he was contemporary with Ezra 
and Nehemiah. It was probably written in the 
latter part of the fifth century before the coming of 
Christ. 400 B. C. This is the date usually given 
when the spirit of prophecy ceased. 

Mrs. Selwyn. Malachi appears to have been 
engaged in the same work of reformation as Ezra 
and Nehemiah. Ezra was commissioned to com- 
plete the Old Testament History, and Malachi to 



480 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

give the last book of the prophets. His name sig- 
nifies " my messenger." He was a messenger of 
God to His people, a representative of John the 
Baptist, whom our Saviour declares a prophet 
greater than any who came before him. Malachi 
declares that John should come in the spirit and 
power of Elijah ; not the old prophet himself, but 
with the same deadness to the world, the same 
purity of character, the same power with God. 

Edward. Malachi was earnest in seeking to 
lead God's people to worship Him in spirit and in 
truth. Their great sin was not as in former times, 
idolatry. 

Susie. But it was what led them away from God ; 
taking heathen women for wives. 

Jennie. Samaritan women, those people that 
" feared God, and served their own gods." 

Edward. The priests were especially given to 
this sin. Nehemiah made banishment from their 
country the penalty for it ; and some, rather than 
give up their heathen wives, went into exile. 

Mrs. S. They went to Samaria, where they 
probably preferred to live. Manasses, son of Je- 
hoida, a high priest, was one of these ; and he it 
was who built a temple on Mt. Gerizim like the one 
at Jerusalem. This was the great cause of that 
bitter feeling between Jews and Samaritans, which 
is spoken of in the New Testament. 

Edward. The prophet quotes their own language 
to show how little sense they had of their sins. 



CONVERSATION XLVII. 481 

Susie. Yes, when charged with having robbed 
God, they say, "Wherein have we robbed thee?" 

Edward. The church at the present day, seems 
to me like the church of Malachi's day, from the 
reproofs that are given for such sins as these — 
heartless worship ; giving to God that which 
costs nothing ; serving one's self first, giving only 
the leavings to Him ; counting God's service a 
weariness — the shorter it is, the better. 

Mrs. S. On the other hand, if all the tithes are 
faithfully rendered, the divine promise is : "I will 
pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room 
enough to receive it." As I read this, I cannot but 
feel that the lack of divine influences in our churches 
can be traced to this robbery of God, this heartless 
service, this want of love. With many their own 
enjoyment seems the great object, rather than living 
for Christ, and seeking to build up His kingdom. 
The salvation of a dying world is apparently less 
thought of, than selfish gratification. This impres- 
sion we cannot help receiving. Is it thus with us ? 
Let us look at home. 

Edward. To profess to dedicate all we are, and 
all we have to God, and then first gratify our selfish 
desires, giving what is left for His service — is not 
this like the sin of Ananias and Sapphira ; keeping 
back part of the price, while professing to give the 
whole ? 

Susie. Or like bringing " the torn, and the lame, 
and the sick, as an offering to God ; as Malachi 

31 



482 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

charges the Israelites with doing ? All that we are, 
and all we have, cannot mean the worthless re- 
mainder ; what we can spare as well as not. 

Mrs. S. One-tenth of his income, indeed more 
than this, the Israelite was required to give to God ; 
but under the Gospel dispensation, no definite pro- 
portion is named. The direction however, is, to 
"lay by in store as God hath prospered," and this 
" on the first day of the week," — a loving heart 
permitted to decide how much this shall be. Will 
one, constrained by love to Jesus, give grudgingly, 
or wait to be asked to give ? Thus, did not Mary, 
when she broke the' box of costly ointment, to 
anoint the feet of the Lord she so much loved. 
Can it be said of us, as of Mary ; " She hath done 
what she could ? " 

Jennie. But even at this dark time, in Israel^ 
there was a remnant of God-fearing people ; their 
light shining the brighter for the very darkness. 

Edward. And the prophet says, " They spake 
often one to another." Their hearts were full of love, 
and they could not help speaking of what they felt. 

Mrs. S. Our Saviour says : " Out of the abund- 
ance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Conversa- 
tion when free, shows the state of the heart, though 
" actions speak louder than words." 

Susie. When very much interested in anything, 
it is hard to keep from speaking of it ; so if we are 
full of love to Jesus, we shall wish to speak of Him. 

Jennie. We should ever keep in mind " the book 



CONVERSATION XLVII. 483 

of remembrance," and that the Lord hears all that 
we say, and knows all that we think. 

Edward. And that the faithful ones are jewels ; 
not one lost, all gathered in, and gems in the Saviours 
crown of rejoicing. 

Susie. Delightful thought, that Jesus knows his 
own ; and though one is so poor, that like Lazarus, 
dogs give him more pity than men, he will be wel- 
comed to a blessed home in heaven. 

Mrs. S. The prophet, in closing the outlines of 
God's gracious plan of redeeming love ; from 
age to age more and more clearly revealed to sin- 
ful man ; makes known the glorious tidings, that 
u the messenger of the covenant shall suddenly 
come into His temple ; and he gives from Him this 
message to His people : " Behold, I will send my 
messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me." 
This is the same messenger that Isaiah had des- 
cribed : " The voice of him that crieth in the 
wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord." 

Edward. It was a custom when a great prince 
was coming to a place, that obstacles should be re- 
moved, the crooked made straight, and the rough 
places plain ; so the people must now make ready 
for the entrance of the King of kings. 

Jennie. Malachi says, that this messenger to 
prepare the way will be Elijah, the prophet. 

Mrs. S. And Luke shows, that John came in the 
spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of 
fathers and children all to the Lord ; " to make 



484 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

ready a people prepared for the Lord." Thus he 
came preaching : " Repent, for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand." The Evangelists declare him 
to be the Elias that was to come, but John testifies 
of himself : " I am the voice of one crying in the 
wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as 
said the prophet Esaias," but he points out Jesus 
to his disciples, as the " Lamb of God, which taketh 
away the sin of the world ;" " He that baptizeth 
with the Holy Ghost," and " the Son of God." 

Susie. " The Messenger of the covenant whom 
ye delight in," is I suppose the Messiah, for whom 
they look and long, believing that His coming will 
be to them a day of glory. 

Edward. But Malachi says, it will be the great 
and dreadful day of the Lord." 

Mrs. S. It was indeed a great and dreadful day 
to those who did not receive Him, for upon them 
the curse of God rested. 

Edward. The people of Israel did not receive 
Him as their Messiah, because He came not in the 
way they desired, and as they expected Him to 
come. Earthly glory was that upon which their 
hearts were set, and not deliverance from the power 
of sin. They were looking for a king to lead them 
on to victory over their enemies ; therefore as Jesus 
was a poor man assuming no royal power ; they 
despised and rejected Him ; and with all the 
evidence from the prophets of His being their 
Messiah, as well as from the miracles which he 



CONVERSATION XLVII. 485 

wrought ; they persisted in causing Him to suffer 
a shameful death. 

Mrs. S. Thus by their rejection of the promised 
Messiah, they filled up the measure of their iniqui- 
ties ; smitten with the curse of God, they were 
given up to unbelief and hardness of heart ; and 
to-day, under the meridian beams of gospel light, 
they are still in darkness. 

Susie. In Moses and the prophets how plainly 
is Christ revealed ; and yet the Jews, while holding 
on with reverence to these sacred writings, do not 
anywhere find Him who was truly their promised 
Messiah. 

Mrs. S. And by this we are impressed that 
their blindness, is the fulfillment of the threaten- 
ing, which God by the prophet Isaiah, pronounced 
upon his rebellious people : " Hear ye indeed, but 
understand not ; and see ye indeed, but perceive 
not," Six times this penalty is repeated in the 
New Testament. Being thus left of God to the 
darkness of unbelief, they rejected Him who was 
the Hope of Israel, and nailed Him to the cross, 
joining together in the cry : " His blood be on us, 
and on our children." 

Edward. That fearful prayer was heard and 
answered ; and their continued unbelief proves 
how great the danger of being left to hardness of 
heart by rejecting the Saviour, and grieving the 
Holy Spirit. 

Mrs. S. In closing these conversations, I would 



486 LIGHT FROM HISTORY. 

impress upon you, my children, the preciousness of 
the Bible. Give it more earnest and careful study 
than any human production. Make it your daily 
guide. Christ is' the Way, the Truth, the Life ; 
therefore ever seek to find Christ. He is the Light 
of the world — the Bread of life — the Fountain from 
whence flow streams of living water. Nourished 
and strengthened by Him, you will grow in grace, 
and in likeness to His perfect character. Pray for 
the influence of the Holy Spirit ; for enlightened by 
Him, your light will shine, and you will glorify Him 
who has called you out of darkness into marvellous 
light. You will be "the epistle of Christ," "written 
not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God ; 
not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the 
heart." 



FINIS. 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: June 2005 

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